By David Torough, Abuja

Nigerian Army Troops  recorded fresh operational gains against kidnappers, bandits and terrorists in Kogi, Plateau and Kebbi states.

The Troops  rescued nine abducted commuters, foiled an ambush and recovered weapons and other items linked to criminal groups.

In Kogi State, Troops deployed at Patrol Base Itobe rescued nine commuters abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Ajaokuta–Itobe Road in Ofu Local Government Area.

The rescue followed a swift response to reports of an attack on commuters along the route.

On arriving at the scene, the troops found a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle abandoned by the roadside, with the passengers missing.

The soldiers subsequently launched a pursuit operation, following the route taken by the fleeing kidnappers towards the outskirts of Adumu Community in Dekina Local Government Area.

The Army said the troops engaged the kidnappers in a firefight, overwhelming the criminals and forcing them to abandon their captives before fleeing into the surrounding bush, with some suspected to have sustained gunshot wounds.

Nine victims were rescued in the operation, comprising two elderly men, two elderly women, four other adult males and an infant.

The victims were evacuated to safety and later handed over to the Nigeria Police, Itobe Area Command, for further action and reunification with their families.

The Army said troops had continued the pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers, while coordinated search operations were ongoing to rescue any remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

In Plateau State, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE also foiled an ambush by suspected bandits during a follow-up operation in Nwur Village, Langtang North Local Government Area.

The operation followed the arrest and interrogation of a suspected bandit, who provided intelligence on the location of a concealed weapon. Troops escorted the suspect to the area to facilitate recovery of the weapon.

However, as the soldiers approached the suspected hideout, members of the criminal group opened fire on them.

The troops responded with superior firepower, killing one of the attackers. The arrested suspect was also killed during the ensuing exchange of gunfire.

A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine and two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, which were abandoned by fleeing members of the group.

The troops have continued operations in the area to track down other members of the suspected bandit group and deny them freedom of action.

Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, ambushed members of the Lakurawa Terrorist Group who were reportedly moving towards Dandi Local Government Area to carry out an attack.

Acting on credible intelligence about the terrorists’ movement, the troops mobilised and laid a tactical ambush at a known crossing point near Uguwan Hassan village.

The troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with superior firepower, forcing the group to abandon its mission and retreat in disarray.

According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Olayinka Osoba, troops recovered two motorcycles, mobile phones, T&T communication radios and a Nigerien identity card belonging to one of the fleeing terrorists from the Tilbiri Region of Niger Republic.

Osoba said the troops were maintaining aggressive patrols and actively pursuing the fleeing terrorists to safeguard communities in the area.

The latest operations form part of the military’s intensified campaign against kidnapping, banditry and terrorism across the country.

The Army urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to facilitate rapid responses to criminal activities.

It also reaffirmed its commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to protecting lives and property and restoring security in affected communities.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,210 personnel to reinforce security during Saturday’s Osun governorship election.

This was contained in a statement by the corps’ Spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday in Abuja.

Afolabi said that the personnel deployed comprised 10,000, operational officers while the remaining 210 were from intelligence and specialised tactical units.

He also said that 1,000 of the deployed personnel were drawn from 10 state commands of the corps.

He added that the Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, had directed the deployment of specialised formations with capabilities suited for the security needs of the election.

Afolabi said that the deployment included men of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 unit.

”The specialised teams will complement the regular deployment through intelligence gathering, crime prevention, detection, protection of critical assets, crowd control and other security responsibilities within their respective areas of competence,” he said.

Audi assured the people of Osun that the NSCDC would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of all residents throughout the electoral process.

“Our personnel have been properly briefed on the need to be professional, neutral and respectful in the discharge of their duties.

“In the light of the above the NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies on election duty will not tolerate any activity intended to jeopardise the election process.

”Criminal minded persons and political thugs willing to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election would face the wrath of the law as prescribed in the electoral act,” he said.

Meanwhile the Osun State Commandant of the corps, Igbalawole Sotiyo, has urged personnel in the state to remain apolitical, maintain strict neutrality and discharge their duties with the highest level of professionalism before, during and after the election.

Sotiyo said that the credibility of the corps and public confidence in its personnel would depend largely on their conduct throughout the electoral process.

He warned against actions capable of undermining the integrity of the corps or compromising the peaceful conduct of the election.

”I urge you not to put the name of the corps into disrepute. Be apolitical, maintain neutrality and respect fundamental human rights.

”Discharge your duties strictly in line with the corps’ Standard Operating Procedures and other extant laws guiding election security operations,” he advised.

The commandant also directed Area Commanders to ensure that personnel under their supervision remained disciplined, professional and responsive to security needs.

He described the NSCDC as a professional, non-partisan agency responsible for protecting lives and property, critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as supporting the maintenance of peace and public order.

He further urged personnel to exhibit civility and respect for the electorate, noting that the election was a constitutional exercise.

He said the role of security personnel was to provide a safe and enabling environment for citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.

Sotiyo reiterated the command’s readiness to deploy personnel professionally and responsibly, stressing that the corps would not compromise its neutrality or constitutional responsibilities.

He urged the public to cooperate with security personnel and report suspicious activities through appropriate channels, assuring that the Command would remain vigilant before, during and after the election.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in a precision air strike in Borno including a key commander responsible for escorting high-value members of the group.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

The operation, conducted on Saturday in the Sambisa Forest area, followed credible intelligence on terrorist movement and activities.

According to Ejodame, the air force deployed a Remotely Piloted Aircraft, RPA, to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, on the area.

“The aircraft tracked a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout.

“Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location,” Ejodame said.

A subsequent battle damage assessment showed that the compound was heavily hit, with nine terrorists confirmed killed and several others wounded.

Among those neutralised was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, described as a prominent ISWAP commander in charge of providing special security escorts for senior members of the group.

Ejodame said his elimination was a major setback for ISWAP, given his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements linking major terrorist enclaves within Sambisa forest and surrounding areas.

Intelligence also indicated that some of the fighters affected by the strike were linked to elements suspected to have carried out the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita–Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

He also said that the operation highlighted the growing effectiveness of air force intelligence-driven air campaigns, combining persistent ISR with precision strikes to detect and neutralise terrorists before they regroup.

“Beyond the immediate casualties, the operation is expected to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership protection arrangements, movement of high-value personnel and coordination of activities across its enclaves,” the statement added.

He reaffirmed NAF commitment to sustaining intelligence-led and precision air operations in close coordination with ground troops to degrade terrorist capabilities and secure communities in the North East.