Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have foiled a mass abduction by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, rescuing 31 travellers and recovering four vehicles.

The development was contained in a post shared by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, via his X handle.

According to Makama, the incident occurred at about 3:45 p.m. on July 31 when troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion stationed at Echo 1, Dutsen Kura, detected suspicious movement through a closed-circuit television, CCTV, surveillance system.

He said CCTV footage captured suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists abducting civilians travelling in four vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya Road.

The troops immediately deployed a Quick Reaction Force, QRF, which pursued the insurgents towards the Mangari–Dora axis and engaged them in a gun battle.

The terrorists were forced to abandon the abducted victims and the four vehicles before fleeing into nearby bush paths.

The operation led to the rescue of 31 civilians, comprising 22 men, five women and four children, with no casualties recorded among the victims or troops.

Troops also recovered a motorcycle abandoned by the fleeing terrorists during the operation.

Following the rescue, troops dominated the area and carried out exploitation operations but made no further contact with the insurgents.

The rescued travellers, alongside the recovered vehicles and other personal belongings, were escorted to Buratai, where they were reunited and allowed to continue their journey.

According to the report, no casualties were recorded among the troops, while there were no confirmed terrorist casualties during the operation.

Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin, have rescued 14 people abducted by suspected kidnappers during a coordinated operation along the Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo State.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu.

According to the statement, the rescue mission was carried out by troops deployed for Operation WABAIZIGAN in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State following a kidnapping incident that occurred along the highway on Thursday night.

Anyanwu explained that soldiers conducting a routine patrol received credible intelligence about the attack at about 9:30 p.m. and immediately launched a pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers.

He said the swift response and sustained pressure from the troops forced the suspects to abandon 11 of the abducted victims before escaping into a nearby forest.

The army spokesman added that a follow-up clearance operation conducted in the forest on Friday led to the rescue of the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to 14.

“All 14 rescued victims underwent preliminary debriefing and medical assessment and were confirmed to be in stable condition,” he said.

He noted that the victims had since been reunited with their families and allowed to continue their journeys.

Anyanwu stated that security operatives were continuing efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing kidnappers, stressing that the operation demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s operational readiness and intelligence-led strategy in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with sister security agencies.

He also appealed to members of the public to support ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information that could aid the arrest of criminal elements.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their courage, professionalism and resilience during the rescue mission.

Balogun reaffirmed the brigade’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Edo State and along the Lagos-Benin Expressway, assuring residents and motorists that troops would sustain intensified operations to flush out criminal elements and deny them safe havens.

Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have thwarted an attempt by a truck driver to divert and sell 670 bags of guinea corn valued at about N33 million.

The suspects, identified as Monday, 46, and his assistant, Kareem, 40, were arrested by operatives of the Command’s Monitoring Unit in the Irepo area of Oyo Town, where the truck carrying the goods had been parked while awaiting prospective buyers.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the operation was carried out following credible intelligence and on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola. 

He said, “officers stormed the hideout of a syndicate allegedly involved in diverting and unlawfully converting goods in transit”.

The police recovered an IVECO truck with registration number MUS 809 XY, loaded with the 670 bags of guinea corn.

Investigations revealed that the goods were loaded in Kaduna State and were meant for delivery in Ibadan, Oyo State. However, the driver allegedly diverted the consignment after reaching Ogbomoso and attempted to sell it in Oyo Town for N11 million, far below its market value.

During interrogation, Monday reportedly admitted to the offence and explained that he had planned to sell the goods before disappearing with the proceeds. 

He claimed it was his first involvement in such an act.

Narrating his actions, the suspect said he obtained the contact of a potential buyer through individuals he met in Oyo Town and had already arranged a meeting before police operatives arrived and arrested him.

His assistant, Kareem, denied any knowledge of the alleged diversion.

 He stated that he had only recently resumed working with Monday after his restaurant business failed and was unaware of any plans to sell the goods illegally.

The owner of the consignment, Comrade Gabriel Abba, Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (Heavy Duty Trucks) in Kaduna, expressed relief that the goods were recovered.

Abba explained that the driver had approached him for a transport job and was entrusted with the delivery after presenting himself as a legitimate transporter. 

He said the driver received funds for fuel and travel expenses but later began providing misleading information about his location while requesting additional payments.

According to him, he became alarmed when communication with the driver became suspicious, only to later receive a call from the police informing him that the goods had been recovered and the suspects arrested.

He commended the Oyo State Police Command for its swift intervention and intelligence-driven operation, noting that their actions prevented a major financial loss.

The police said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.