7 May 2026/ News/ SUNTV Report
The Nigerian Army has rescued the remaining nine victims abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Kogi State and intercepted a suspected terrorist courier transporting hundreds of rounds of ammunition in separate security operations.
The Army disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Brigade, under Operation TIGER PAW II.
According to the statement, troops conducting sustained search-and-rescue operations successfully located and rescued the kidnapped victims in the Agbaja Forest area of Lokoja Local Government Area on May 6, 2026.
Military authorities said the rescued victims included five boys, two girls, and two adult women believed to be wives of the orphanage proprietor.
The victims were immediately evacuated to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for treatment and medical attention and were reported to be in stable condition.
“In a major breakthrough under Operation TIGER PAW II, troops successfully rescued the remaining kidnapped victims from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage following sustained search and rescue efforts,” the statement said.
The Army added that troops acted on credible intelligence and maintained operational pressure on criminal elements operating within the forest region.
The rescue followed the abduction of the orphanage proprietor’s wife and several pupils during a late-night attack on the facility located in Zariagi along the Kabba Junction axis of Lokoja in April.
At the time, Kogi State authorities confirmed that some of the abducted children had earlier been rescued while security agencies intensified efforts to recover the remaining victims.
The state government also revealed that the affected orphanage was allegedly operating illegally in a remote bush area without proper registration or official approval.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation carried out on the same day, troops reportedly intercepted a suspected terrorist logistics courier along the Obajana–Lokoja road.
The suspect, identified as Yahaya Umar, was allegedly caught transporting 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition concealed inside a sack of maize.
According to military authorities, preliminary investigations identified Umar as a suspected arms courier linked to terrorist groups operating within the North-Central region.
The Army said the suspect confessed during interrogation that the ammunition was handed over to him inside the Obajana Forest and was being transported to Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, for delivery to another suspected terrorist operative.
“The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing further interrogation to aid ongoing operations aimed at dismantling the criminal network and apprehending other members of the syndicate,” the Army stated.
Military authorities described the operations as part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping, and criminal activities across the region.
The Nigerian Army also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to support security operations nationwide.
