By Barth Ikiebe.
In a dramatic anti-crime sweep, troops of the Nigerian Army have smashed a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating in Kwara State, arresting eight suspects and rescuing two hostages in a high-stakes raid.
Our correspondent reports that the operation, carried out by soldiers of the 22 Armoured Brigade stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Patigi, targeted a criminal hideout near Latandaji Village in Patigi Local Government Area.
The Reporters further gathered that acting on precise intelligence, the troops launched a coordinated assault on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
According to the acting spokesperson of the brigade, Lieutenant Stephen Nwankwo, the kidnappers put up “mild resistance” but were swiftly overpowered by the troops’ superior firepower.
“During the operation, troops rescued two male victims, Mr. Amos Moses and Mr. Philip Michael, who were being held captive. Eight suspects were arrested at the scene,”Nwankwo said in a statement.
He disclosed that one suspect, identified as Mohammed Mohammed, sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and was evacuated to Bacita Teaching Hospital for treatment under military guard.
According to him,a search of the enclave uncovered two motorcycles and two expended cartridge shells, believed to have been used by the criminal gang for their operations.
The arrested suspects are currently in military custody undergoing preliminary interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
Lieutenant Nwankwo emphasized that the raid underscores the Nigerian Army’s determination to rid Kwara and other parts of the country of criminal networks threatening public safety.
“The Army urge citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, as collective action is key to dismantling criminal syndicates,” he added.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and restoring peace in all areas of deployment.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
