Troops rescue two female kidnap victims in Kogi

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued two female kidnap victims after suspected bandits invaded a farmland in Ajodomodo Village, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, when the suspected bandits reportedly invaded the farmland and abducted the two victims before fleeing the area.

Troops of the 21 Battalion Quick Reaction Force swiftly responded to the incident and pursued the fleeing criminals along their withdrawal route towards Agbodakodo Forest.

According to sources the pressure from the troops forced the abductors to abandon the victims in the forest.

The victims, identified as 15-year-old Miss Mohammed Rahinat and Mrs Hassanatu Mohammed, 30, were subsequently rescued unharmed.

The two women were evacuated to the 21 Battalion Medical Reception Station for medical attention and further assessment.

The military said troops have continued operations in the area to track the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks on farming communities.

The rescue illustrates the importance of rapid military response and timely information sharing in countering kidnapping and other criminal activities in rural communities.

Troops rescue two female kidnap victims in Kogi

Operation Whirl Stroke troops raid suspected terrorist hideout, arrest five in Taraba

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have raided a suspected terrorist hideout in Peva, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, arresting five persons believed to be associates of a notorious bandit operating in the area.

The operation was conducted in the early hours of Thursday, Sept. 3, following credible intelligence received by the troops at about 12:30 a.m. regarding the location of the suspected criminal hideout.

Acting on the information, troops of Sector 1, in conjunction with personnel of Sector 3, both under Operation Whirl Stroke, swiftly mobilised and launched a raid on the identified location.

However, the suspected terrorists reportedly received information about the advancing troops and fled the hideout before the arrival of the security forces.

Undeterred, the troops conducted a thorough search of the area, leading to the arrest of five persons suspected to be associates of the fleeing criminal.

Items recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifle magazines, 46 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one woodland camouflage jacket, one jungle hat, four charm vests and assorted charms.

The military said the arrests and recovery of the items had provided useful leads that could support ongoing efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network.

The arrested suspects are expected to undergo further profiling and interrogation as troops intensify efforts to establish their roles and track the fleeing members of the group.

Operation Whirl Stroke assured residents across Taraba and other parts of its Joint Operations Area of continued intelligence-driven operations aimed at sustaining pressure on terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

The task force also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations and enhance the protection of communities.

Operation Whirl Stroke troops raid suspected terrorist hideout, arrest five in Taraba

FG moves to protect Nigerian investments in Angola

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has pledged to protect Nigerian-owned investments in Angola and strengthen support for Nigerians living and doing business in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during an inspection of the Cidade De Motores (City of Engines) auto spare-parts market in Golf 2, Luanda, established by Nigerian auto parts dealers.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who visited the facility on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, expressed satisfaction with the scale of investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs, describing the project as evidence of the pioneering spirit of Nigerians abroad.

“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground. We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some phony stories would be told about their investment,” she said.

The minister said the protection of Nigerian businesses in Angola would receive priority in future bilateral discussions, particularly at the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.

She added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the welfare and protection of Nigerians wherever they lived, assuring the traders that the government was taking steps to address challenges confronting Nigerians abroad.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, however, urged the traders to obey Angolan laws and conduct their businesses in ways that would enhance Nigeria’s image.

She also warned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market, stressing that the facility should remain inclusive.

“There should be no room for tribalism,” she said.

Earlier, the President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Chuks Ukachi, thanked the minister for visiting the market and explained that the project was established after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from conducting business along the roadside.

According to him, the restriction left many Nigerian traders without businesses for nearly two years, prompting the association to establish a formal market where they could operate legally.

Ukachi said the facility was open to Nigerians and Angolans, describing it as an investment designed not only to create business opportunities but also to project a positive image of Nigeria in Angola.

“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” he said.

The association appealed to the Federal Government to assist in securing the market and protecting the substantial investments made by Nigerian entrepreneurs in Angola.

FG moves to protect Nigerian investments in Angola