In a decisive operation, troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army successfully intercepted a terrorist logistics network and secured the release of kidnapped individuals in Kogi State. The efforts, detailed in a statement by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Brigade, highlight the military’s ongoing commitment to combating insecurity in the region.
During the operation, personnel rescued nine individuals from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage, comprising five boys, two girls, and two adult females believed to be the orphanage proprietor’s wives. All survivors were swiftly transported to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre, where they received necessary medical care and first aid.
In a separate but related incident on the same day, troops acting on actionable intelligence about an arms syndicate apprehended a suspected ammunition courier along the Obajana–Lokoja road in Lokoja Local Government Area. The suspect, identified as Yahaya Umar, was caught with 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition cleverly hidden inside a bag of maize to avoid detection.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Umar served as a key logistics courier for terrorists, facilitating the movement of arms and ammunition across states in the North Central region. Interrogations suggest the ammunition was handed to him at the Obajana Forest, intended for transport to Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, for a yet-to-be-identified terrorist recipient.
The suspect remains in custody, undergoing further questioning as part of efforts to dismantle the broader criminal network and apprehend additional syndicate members.