In a successful joint security operation, troops from the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army’s Guards Brigade, alongside Nigeria Police Force operatives and local vigilantes, rescued 19 kidnapped individuals and eliminated one terrorist near Gidan Dogo in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The coordinated search-and-rescue mission was launched based on reliable intelligence pinpointing the hideout of terrorists linked to recent abductions in the Byazhin area of Bwari.

Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at Guards Brigade Headquarters, Olawuyi Odunola Itunuoluwa, confirmed in a statement to defence correspondents in Abuja that troops made contact with the armed group, triggering a fierce firefight.

“One terrorist was neutralised during the exchange of fire, while several others escaped with what are believed to be gunshot injuries,” the statement read.

Security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle and a locally made firearm from the scene.

“All 19 kidnapped victims were safely rescued and evacuated,” Itunuoluwa added. The troops have since returned to their Forward Operating Base in Bwari, and the rescued individuals are now receiving medical care and support.

The military emphasised ongoing efforts to maintain dominance in the area and deter future criminal acts.

Brigadier-General Adebisi Olusegun Onasanya, Commander of the Guards Brigade, praised the troops and partner agencies for their courage and professionalism.

He reaffirmed the brigade’s unwavering commitment to protecting FCT residents and securing Abuja as Nigeria’s seat of power, vowing to intensify collaborative operations with other security outfits to eradicate terrorism, kidnapping, and related crimes across the territory and nearby communities.