Army saves kidnap victims in Kwara forest, steps up offensive

The Nigerian Army has rescued multiple kidnap victims in Kwara State as it intensifies operations against banditry and rural abductions. The recent breakthroughs come amid coordinated efforts by troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA and 22 Armoured Brigade.

Lens News gathered that, in a documented case, soldiers from 2 Division / Sector 3 successfully rescued three abducted victims from the Babanla Forest enclave in Kwara. The team acted on intelligence and mounted an advance into dense forest terrain to free the captives. 

Separately, troops under the command of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, secured the release of two kidnapped persons following firefights in Efagi village, Lafiagi, and in the Ayekale axis spanning Edu and Omu-Aran LGAs. During those engagements, one soldier and a vigilante member sustained gunshot wounds and have been evacuated for medical care.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Maj-Gen Chinedu Nnebeife, personally led operations into Babasango Forest within Irepodun Local Government Area. He oversaw efforts to extend clearance operations beyond the forest to neighboring axes plagued by repeated abductions. The rescued victims were later handed over to local traditional leadership, including Oba Pius Oluwole, the Dofin of Idofin.

Security officials say the intensified operations reflect a strategic pivot: instead of reactive responses, troops are now emphasizing proactive patrols, forest sweeps, and strategic blocking positions on escape routes. The spokesman for 2 Division, Lt-Col Polycarp Okoye, disclosed that troops have established blocking lines along border axes and recovered weapons seized from criminal elements.

Across Kwara’s affected rural areas including Oke-Ode, Ifelodun, Lafiagi, Edu, and Patigi residents have welcomed the military’s intensified presence. However, many warn that until forest hideouts are cleared and community intelligence is strengthened, bandit elements will continue to exploit terrain challenges and weak coverage.

The military has urged local populations to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report suspicious movements. Officials say the operations will persist and expand until inside out those networks facilitating kidnappings and violence in the region are dismantled.