By Danjuma Amodu | February 8, 2026
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s Guards Brigade have rescued 19 people who were kidnapped from Byazhin within Kubwa vicinity in Bwari area of Abuja, during a joint operation with police and local vigilantes.
The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters Guards Brigade, Lieutenant Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, disclosed this in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) verified handle of Nigerin Military on Saturday.
According to the statement, the operation was conducted around Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council following credible intelligence on the whereabouts of terrorists responsible for the recent abduction of residents in the Byazhin area of Bwari.
The troops carried out the operation in collaboration with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes.
“During the operation, troops made contact with the bandits, leading to a firefight in which one of the criminals was neutralised while others fled the scene with suspected gunshot wounds,” the statement said.
Security operatives recovered one AK-47 and a locally fabricated firearm during the operation.
“Additionally, all 19 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued and evacuated to safety,” the Army spokesman added.
The rescued victims are said to be currently receiving attention, while troops have returned to their Forward Operating Base in Bwari and are continuing patrols in the area to prevent further criminal activities.
Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya, commended the troops and other security agencies for their bravery and professionalism.
He reiterated the Brigade’s commitment to protecting residents of the Federal Capital Territory and safeguarding Abuja as the nation’s seat of power.
“The Guards Brigade will continue to intensify operations in collaboration with other security agencies to rid the territory and its environs of terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities,” the statement added.
Mounting insecurity and kidnapping incidents have continued to raise concerns across Nigeria, with armed bandits and criminal gangs targeting communities, travellers, and unsuspecting Nigerians for ransom.
Brigadier-General Adebisi Onasanya, the Commander of the Guards Brigade, warned that the area would not be a safe haven for terrorists and bandits, citing successful clearance operations and arrests made in 2025.
The brigade’s efforts have led to the neutralization of several criminal elements, recovery of weapons, and containment of attempts to destabilize the FCT. Onasanya attributed these successes to sustained operations and collaboration with other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services.
The Guards Brigade has identified areas such as Bwari, Abaji, and Gwagwalada within the FCT, as well as Toto and parts of Niger State, as hotspots for banditry and criminal activities. The brigade is committed to maintaining a high level of operational readiness and ensuring the safety of residents in Abuja and its environs.
