Troops of 2 Division/Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued three additional kidnap victims from Babanla Forest in Kwara State as the Nigerian Army intensifies its campaign against bandits troubling local communities.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, Captain Stephen Nwankwo, the victims were rescued during coordinated operations on Saturday after credible intelligence revealed the kidnappers’ movement in the area.
Nwankwo said troops stationed at the Patrol Base Babanla raided a suspected bandit camp and successfully rescued 25-year-old Oluwabusayo Taiwo and her three-year-old son, Taiwo Irayomide, who were kidnapped at Oke-Ode on September 28, 2025.
“The rescued victims are currently receiving first aid treatment at the Patrol Base sick bay and will be reunited with their family members in due course,” the statement read.
In another operation the same day, soldiers on patrol along a known bandit route also freed Mr. Mohammed Sanni, a 40-year-old tea seller from the Garkarima community. The kidnappers reportedly escaped on sighting the patrol team, leaving the victim behind in a pool of blood.
“One Dane gun and a cutlass were recovered from the scene,” the army spokesperson added, noting that the victim was receiving medical attention at the patrol base clinic.
The Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, applauded the troops for their courage and timely response, reaffirming that the Nigerian Army would sustain its efforts to eradicate criminal gangs from the state.
“We remain fully committed to the safety and security of all citizens and will continue to intensify operations to restore peace and stability across Kwara State and its environs,” Barkins said.
Saturday’s rescue happened barely a day after troops of the same operation secured the freedom of two kidnapped victims in Idofin, Irepodun Local Government Area, after a fierce exchange of gunfire with the abductors.
Earlier in the week, the army had also freed two persons in Lafiagi following a clash with suspected bandits who had kidnapped them from a nearby settlement.
Residents in parts of Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi LGAs have continuously appealed for a stronger security presence as bandit incursions persist, threatening farming and local commerce in the region.
The ongoing operations by troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA reflect a renewed resolve by the military to restore peace and stability to affected communities in Kwara and adjoining states.
