Nigerian forces say they rescued 11 people in a nighttime operation that interrupted an attempt by armed militants to transfer captives through wooded terrain along the Kaduna-Abuja highway. The military operation stopped the group as they were being moved under the cover of darkness, the army said.
The rescued group included five men, three women and three children. They had been held for 92 days following an abduction in October from the Gada Mallam Maman community in Kaduna state.
Troops operating from forward operating base Doka detected the movement on January 26 after employing long-range surveillance equipment, according to the army statement. Soldiers acted after observers identified the kidnappers escorting the captives along a bush track, seizing the opportunity to free the hostages.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a particularly acute security problem in northwestern and central Nigeria, the army noted, with the Kaduna-Abuja expressway repeatedly cited as a hotspot. The road is an important transport link, connecting the nation’s commercial capital with the federal capital territory, and the recent incident highlights the vulnerability of that corridor.
The broader security situation in Nigeria has drawn international attention. The article notes scrutiny from the U.S. president, who has referenced military action taken on Christmas Day framed as a response to reported persecution of Christians. Separately, security forces are still contending with a recent mass abduction in Kaduna in which more than 160 worshippers were taken from two churches.
The rescue operation along the Kaduna-Abuja highway underscores the continuing challenge Nigeria faces in securing major transport routes and protecting communities against armed groups that conduct kidnappings for ransom. The military statement describes operational detection via surveillance and a subsequent tactical response to prevent the militants from moving their captives farther into forested areas.
Operational takeaway - The use of long-range surveillance from a forward operating base enabled troops to intercept a moving group of militants and hostages in darkness, resulting in the liberation of 11 people held for more than three months.