Security
TROOPS RESCUE 12 KIDNAPPED VICTIMS IN ENUGU OPERATION
A rapid-response operation by Nigerian troops has led to the rescue of 12 kidnapped victims in Enugu State, underscoring intensifying security efforts to curb the growing threat of abductions across the country’s Southeast.
The victims were freed on Friday during a coordinated operation by troops of the Nigerian Army operating under Operation Eastern Sanity, following a distress alert about an abduction in the Ette community, located in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area. The troops, attached to the 82 Division Nigerian Army, swiftly mobilised alongside operatives of the police, forest guards and members of local neighbourhood watch groups to track the suspected kidnappers.
Upon arrival in the area, the Joint Security team launched an aggressive search operation and combat patrols across surrounding forests believed to be the kidnappers’ escape routes. According to military officials, the suspected criminals abandoned the victims and fled after realising they had been surrounded by the advancing troops.
All twelve victims were rescued unharmed during the operation, security officials confirmed, adding that troops immediately secured the area while pursuing the fleeing suspects. During the follow-up sweep of the location, security operatives arrested two suspects believed to be connected to the kidnapping gang. The suspects are currently being interrogated as part of efforts to dismantle the wider criminal network.
Kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security challenge across several parts of Nigeria, with criminal groups increasingly targeting rural communities and travellers along major routes. Security analysts say swift tactical responses such as the Enugu operation are critical to disrupting kidnapping syndicates that exploit remote forested areas as hideouts.
Military authorities confirmed that troops have intensified patrols and surveillance across the affected communities to prevent further attacks and reassure residents. The latest rescue operation, officials say, reflects ongoing efforts by security agencies to sustain operational pressure on criminal elements and restore public confidence in the region’s security architecture.
For residents of Ette community, the successful rescue offers temporary relief in an area that has increasingly felt the ripple effects of Nigeria’s broader security challenges.
Nigeria’s road safety regulator has launched a sweeping internal reform campaign aimed at restoring discipline and credibility within its ranks, as the leadership of the Federal Road Safety Corps moves to stamp out corruption and enforce stricter operational standards across the country.
The nationwide engagement, ordered by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, directed members of the agency’s management team to meet with officers and personnel in commands nationwide in a coordinated push to reinforce ethical conduct and professional service delivery. The campaign, which took place across formations on March 3, 2026, forms a key component of a broader institutional reform agenda aligned with the governance priorities of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has emphasised discipline, accountability and anti-corruption measures across public institutions.
He said the initiative is designed to reset the operational culture of the Corps and strengthen internal accountability as the agency seeks to rebuild public confidence while improving road safety outcomes. During the engagements, Corps Marshal Shehu delivered a blunt message to personnel: tolerance for mediocrity and unethical conduct will no longer be accepted within the organisation.
Officers were urged to recommit to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and operational efficiency while maintaining a zero-tolerance stance on corruption in the discharge of their duties. Corps Marshal Shehu stressed that strengthening institutional discipline is critical to the agency’s core mandate of protecting lives on Nigerian highways, particularly as traffic volumes continue to increase alongside the country’s expanding transport network.
Under Corps Marshal Shehu leadership, the Corps has begun pushing a series of internal reforms focused on tightening supervision, improving operational productivity and reinforcing a culture of transparency across its nationwide command structure. He said the integrity drive is also intended to reposition the agency as a model public institution built on discipline and accountability, while ensuring that personnel deliver services that meet public expectations.
Beyond traffic enforcement, the FRSC plays a central role in road safety education, accident response and regulatory oversight for road users across Nigeria’s highway network. By intensifying its internal engagement with officers, the Corps Marshal Shehu hoped to strengthen operational standards and reduce the reputational damage often associated with allegations of corruption within traffic enforcement agencies.
The management of the Corps reiterated that the reform process will continue in the months ahead, with additional oversight mechanisms and performance monitoring systems expected to be introduced to reinforce compliance. He also assured motorists that the renewed internal focus will translate into safer roads, improved emergency response and a more transparent relationship between road safety personnel and the travelling public.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that the federal government will not be intimidated by recent insurgent attacks in Borno State, assuring Nigerians that the administration remains committed to restoring peace and security across the country.
Shettima’s statement comes after renewed attacks by suspected insurgents in parts of Borno, including reported abductions in Ngoshe and coordinated assaults on military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president, condemned the attacks and described them as desperate attempts to undermine the nation’s collective peace.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fully briefed on the situation and has ordered a swift mobilisation of Nigeria’s security architecture to address the threat.
According to Shettima, the federal government has already begun deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected communities in Borno State.
“The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the security challenges we still face, but we choose hope over despair,” the vice president said.
He stressed that the government would not allow terrorists or criminal elements to occupy any part of Nigerian territory or displace citizens from their communities.
Shettima also assured that those responsible for the attacks would face the full weight of the law.
“Our hearts go out to the families affected by the attacks and to the brave soldiers who paid the ultimate price in defence of the nation,” he added.
The vice president further commended the resilience of the people of Borno State and praised Governor Babagana Zulum for his leadership in confronting the insurgency.
He also applauded the courage and dedication of Nigerian troops fighting on the frontline, assuring that the government would continue to support them in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Shettima reaffirmed that the Tinubu administration remains determined to end insurgency and protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
At least 16 people have reportedly been killed following fresh attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on several communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
Local sources said the attacks occurred between Thursday night and the early hours of Friday, targeting communities including Jato-Aka, Mbachon, and Tse-Yough in the Yaav Council Ward of the local government area. The assailants reportedly opened fire on residents, leaving many dead while several others sustained injuries, and some remain missing.
Residents said the attackers stormed the communities in large numbers, shooting sporadically and causing panic among villagers, many of whom fled into nearby bushes to escape the violence. Several houses and properties were also reportedly destroyed during the assault.
Reacting to the incident, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia strongly condemned the killings, describing the attack as “barbaric, senseless and unacceptable.” He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
The governor assured residents that the state government would work with security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the attack were apprehended and brought to justice. He also called on security operatives to intensify efforts to protect lives and property in the affected communities.
Authorities said investigations into the attack are ongoing, while security agencies have reportedly been deployed to the affected areas to restore calm and prevent further violence.
The latest attack highlights the continuing security challenges in parts of Benue State, particularly in rural communities where clashes and raids have frequently led to loss of lives and displacement of residents.