In a decisive blow against criminal networks operating in North Central Nigeria, troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have successfully rescued kidnapped victims and intercepted a major terrorist ammunition supply chain in a series of coordinated operations on May 6, 2026.
The rescue mission, conducted under the ongoing Operation TIGER PAW II, brought an end to the harrowing ordeal of hostages taken from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage. Acting on actionable intelligence, soldiers from the Brigade’s Blocking Force tracked the captives deep into the Agbaja Forest area within Lokoja Local Government Area. After sustained pressure on the terrorist hideouts, the troops extracted five boys, two girls, and two adult women—believed to be the wives of the orphanage’s proprietor. All nine victims were immediately evacuated to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre, where they received first aid and were confirmed to be in stable condition.
In a simultaneous operation on the same day, troops demonstrated their capability to disrupt terrorist logistics networks. Acting on a tip-off regarding an arms syndicate, soldiers intercepted a suspected ammunition courier along the Obajana–Lokoja road. The suspect, identified as Yahaya Umar, was attempting to transport 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition concealed inside a bag of maize—a crude but deliberate attempt to evade security checkpoints.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Umar serves as a key logistics courier for terrorist groups moving arms across multiple states in the North Central region. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed that the ammunition was handed to him at Obajana Forest and was destined for Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, where an unidentified terrorist cell awaited delivery.
The suspect remains in military custody as intelligence operatives work to dismantle the wider criminal syndicate and track down other members still at large.
In an official statement, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, reaffirmed the military’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property. He urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
These back-to-back successes underscore the effectiveness of sustained military pressure in denying terrorists both their human shields and their supply lines.
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