Troops ‘rescue 100’ from hideout around Kogi-Nasarawa boundary

Troops of the 177 battalion and the army records, Lokoja, with support from local vigilante groups, have cleared Darusalam, a hideout for suspected kidnappers located around the Kogi-Nasarawa boundary and rescued 100 persons.

The kidnappers are said to have terrorised communities around the Kogi-Nasarawa boundary and travellers who passed through that area for over eight years.

In a statement on Monday, Mohammed Onogwu, chief press secretary to Yahaya Bello, Kogi governor, said the camp located at Ittu is home to about 2,000 kidnappers and some Boko Haram members.

“Between last Saturday and Wednesday, about 100 persons, mostly women and children, were rescued and taken to Lafia, while yesterday at Achara in Tawari Ward of Kogi LGA, about 180 family members of Darusalam were captured,” Onogwu said.

“One of the suspects was shot dead while attempting to escape during the military clearing operations.

“The logistics support of the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, to the Nigerian Army helped in no small measure in the success recorded by men of the Nigerian Army in this latest operation.

“Recall  that the governor of Kogi state and chairman, security committee, Northern Governors Forum, during Eid-kabir celebrations told journalists in Okene that in days ahead, he will lead security operatives into the forest to unleash terror on criminals operating within the state.”