By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
After spending 92 harrowing days in terrorist captivity, eleven Nigerians have finally regained their freedom following a daring late-night operation by the Nigerian Army along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.
The rescue, carried out on 26 January 2026, was executed by troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Doka, who intercepted armed terrorists attempting to relocate their captives under the cover of darkness through the Gidan Duna–Amale bush track.
Using high-definition, long-range CCTV surveillance, soldiers detected suspicious movement and immediately launched a coordinated pursuit. Tactical vehicles and motorcycles were deployed in a rapid interception that overwhelmed the criminals, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into nearby scrubland.
The rescued victims—five adult males, three adult females, and three children—had been held since 26 October 2025, when they were abducted from Gada Mallam Maman Community. For over three months, they endured uncertainty and hardship deep within terrorist-controlled terrain before their rescue brought an end to the prolonged ordeal.
Military sources said the swift action prevented the terrorists from escaping into the hinterland, where recovery would have been significantly more difficult.
The operation underscores the Nigerian Army’s growing reliance on modern surveillance technology combined with high-mobility ground forces, a strategy increasingly yielding results against criminal and terrorist networks.
Security authorities reaffirmed their commitment to protecting civilians, securing major transport corridors, and ensuring that criminal elements find no sanctuary—day or night.
