Nigerian security forces have recorded a series of successful operations across Katsina, Plateau and Niger states, including the rescue of seven people, the arrest of a suspected criminal and the safe destruction of an improvised explosive device.
One of the major breakthroughs occurred in Katsina State, where troops rescued six female students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) and their driver after responding to a reported kidnapping incident.
The students and the driver were intercepted by suspected kidnappers along the Daye-Malufashi road in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident occurred at about 10:48 p.m. on Monday, according to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Troops were deployed after receiving information about the kidnapping attempt and moved to the location, where they were able to prevent the suspected abductors from carrying out their plan.
The intervention resulted in the safe recovery of the six female students and their driver.
Following the rescue, the victims were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further handling and continuation of their journey.
The operation is one of several recent military interventions aimed at disrupting criminal activities and protecting civilians travelling through areas affected by insecurity.
Two kidnapped victims rescued in Plateau
The military also reported successful operations in Plateau State, where troops operating under Operation Enduring Peace rescued two kidnapped victims in separate incidents.
The operations were carried out in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas as troops continued efforts to respond to criminal activities and attacks in vulnerable communities.
In Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area, troops responded to sporadic gunfire suspected to have been linked to kidnappers operating in the area.
The military intervention led to the rescue of a victim who had sustained gunshot injuries.
The injured victim was subsequently evacuated to COCIN Hospital for medical attention.
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The circumstances surrounding the shooting were not fully detailed in the operational report, but the response by the troops enabled the victim to be recovered from the attackers.
Another rescue operation took place at Fanga village in Bokkos Local Government Area.
According to the report, troops disrupted an attempted kidnapping after the suspected abductors noticed their presence and fled from the area.
An injured victim was recovered during the operation and subsequently taken to a clinic in Daffo for treatment.
The military said efforts were continuing to locate and apprehend the suspects who escaped after abandoning the attempted abduction.
The incidents in Mangu and Bokkos form part of the wider security operations being conducted under Operation Enduring Peace to tackle threats posed by armed criminals and other violent groups in Plateau State.
Suspect arrested over alleged family attack
In another development in Plateau State, troops arrested a suspected criminal at Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended in connection with an alleged attack on a family at Gonifal Guru.
The arrest followed ongoing security operations in the area as troops work to identify individuals suspected of involvement in attacks and other criminal activities.
Details of the alleged family attack were not immediately provided in the operational report, while further investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the suspect’s alleged involvement.
The arrest adds to the security forces’ efforts to prevent attacks and strengthen the protection of residents in communities affected by insecurity.
Troops destroy explosive device in Niger
Meanwhile, troops operating under Operation Savannah Shield recorded another significant security intervention in Niger State after discovering an improvised explosive device (IED).
The explosive was found along the Dekara-Masaka-Machan Geda-Baturen Daji road in Borgu Local Government Area.
Rather than allowing the device to remain a potential threat to motorists, residents and other road users, the troops safely detonated it.
The discovery highlights another dimension of the security challenges confronting communities and travellers in parts of the country, where explosive devices can pose serious risks to people using major routes.
The military did not provide details about who planted the device or whether any suspect had been identified in connection with it.
Military operations continue across affected areas
The latest operational report shows that troops carried out interventions against different forms of security threats in three states, ranging from attempted kidnappings and attacks on civilians to the discovery of an explosive device.
In Katsina, the intervention prevented the abduction of six university students and their driver. In Plateau, two victims were rescued during separate operations, while a suspected criminal was arrested in connection with an alleged attack on a family.
In Niger State, troops prevented a potential security incident by safely disposing of an IED discovered along a major road.
The military’s interventions also demonstrate the importance of timely responses to distress calls and intelligence reports in areas facing security challenges.
However, the report did not provide further information on the identities of the suspected kidnappers who fled in Katsina and Plateau states or whether arrests had been made in connection with the incidents.
Efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are expected to continue as security agencies intensify operations in the affected areas.
The rescued victims, particularly those who sustained injuries, have been taken to the appropriate authorities or medical facilities for further assistance.
The latest developments come amid continuing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to disrupt kidnapping networks, protect vulnerable communities and prevent criminal elements from establishing control over major roads and settlements.
The operational successes across Katsina, Plateau and Niger underline the ongoing nature of military deployments aimed at responding to kidnapping, armed attacks and other threats to public safety.
Security personnel are expected to sustain operations in the affected locations while pursuing suspects who escaped during the various intervention.
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