Kaduna: Nigerian Army rescues 11 kidnap victims after 92 days in captivity

Troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army have rescued 11 kidnapped victims in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 

The Army in a statement on Tuesday January 27, 2026, said the rescue was carried out following a coordinated operation along the Kaduna-Abuja road axis. 

According to the statement, the victims were abducted from Gada Mallam Maman community on 26 October 2025. 

“In a sophisticated display of modern warfare and tactical precision, the Nigerian Army has recorded another major operational success with the rescue of eleven (11) kidnapped Nigerians during a late-night operation on 26 January 2026 along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway corridor, reaffirming its resolve to deny criminal elements freedom of action,” the statement read.

“Troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Doka, leveraging high-definition, long-range CCTV surveillance, detected armed terrorists attempting to move their captives through the Gidan Duna–Amale bush track under the cover of darkness and immediately initiated a coordinated interception.

“A swift high-speed pursuit using tactical vehicles and motorcycles overwhelmed the criminals, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding scrubland, thereby averting their escape into the hinterland.

“The operation resulted in the successful rescue of five adult males, three adult females, and three children, who had been held in captivity since their abduction from Gada Mallam Maman Community on 26 October 2025, bringing an end to 92 days of ordeal.

“This decisive action highlights the Nigerian Army’s effective integration of modern surveillance technology with agile ground operations and stresses its relentless commitment to protecting lives, securing key routes and ensuring that criminals find no refuge by day or by night.”