The Nigerian Army has rescued 11 kidnapped persons along the Kaduna–Abuja expressway, thwarting an attempt by terrorists to move their captives through a bush route.
The operation, executed by troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Doka, was disclosed in a statement posted on the Nigerian Armed Forces’ official X handle on Tuesday.
According to the military, the rescue followed actionable intelligence gathered through high-definition surveillance, which revealed armed terrorists transporting captives under the cover of darkness along the Gidan Duna–Amale bush track.
The statement noted that the troops detected the movement and immediately launched a coordinated interception.
“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”, the Army said.
It added that troops engaged in a swift pursuit using tactical vehicles and motorcycles.
“The speed and intensity of the response reportedly overwhelmed the terrorists, forcing them to abandon the captives and flee into nearby scrubland.
“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 statement read.
According to the Army, the rescued victims include five adult males, three adult females, and three children, who had been held hostage for 92 days. They were reportedly abducted from the Gada Mallam Maman Community on October 26, 2025.
The military confirmed that the captives were recovered unharmed and reunited with safety following the successful operation.
The Nigerian Army described the operation as a clear demonstration of its increasing capability to integrate modern surveillance technology with rapid ground response.
“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,” the statement added.
The Armed Forces reaffirmed their determination to maintain pressure on terrorist and criminal networks operating along major highways and nearby communities, emphasising ongoing efforts to safeguard civilians and disrupt criminal activities across key routes.
