Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have overrun a bandits’ camp in Kogi State, successfully rescuing two kidnap victims who had been held captive.

According to a military operational report released on Saturday, the offensive targeted criminal elements operating across the strategic Niger-Kwara-Kogi axis.

Acting on actionable intelligence regarding the movement of injured bandits associated with notorious criminal networks, the ground troops, fortified by air support from a police helicopter, intercepted fleeing bandits heading toward the border corridors of Niger and Kwara states.

During the coordinated assault, the troops completely dismantled a camp belonging to an active bandit kingpin, Kachallah Babangida. The military operation also led to the clearance of an illegal mining site that served as a critical source of illicit funding for the syndicate’s regional operations. Fleeing bandits who attempted to escape with more than 30 rustled cattle were aggressively engaged by the security forces.

Following the initial clash, tactical units conducted extensive cordon-and-search operations across the Owara community and pushed further into Aleke village to flush out remnants of the gang. The operation yielded the following results:

* Suspect Detained: One suspected bandit, identified as Ado Ibrahim, was taken into custody.
* Logistics Disrupted: Four operational motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing criminals were recovered, and several makeshift farm settlements used as hideouts around Aleke were leveled.
* Hostages Rescued: The two abductees, identified as Yahuza Sani and Tanimola Temidayo, managed to escape the camp during an air interdiction. They safely connected with army personnel at a patrol base in Obajana and were immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

The military authorities confirmed that operations are being sustained in the general area to maintain relentless pressure on criminal syndicates, protect rural livelihoods, and permanently restore safety to the affected border communities.