By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The Nigerian Army has scored a major operational breakthrough on the volatile Kaduna–Abuja Expressway, foiling a daring terrorist movement and rescuing 11 kidnapped Nigerians in a late-night operation that underscored the growing sophistication of military counter-terror tactics.
In what security sources described as a precision-driven interception, troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Doka struck on the night of January 26, 2026, after real-time intelligence picked up suspicious movement deep within the Gidan Duna–Amale bush axis, a notorious escape route used by criminal gangs.
Leveraging high-definition, long-range CCTV surveillance, soldiers detected armed terrorists attempting to relocate their captives under the cover of darkness, an apparent bid to slip into the hinterland and evade ongoing military pressure.
Within minutes, a coordinated response was activated.
Troops launched a high-speed pursuit, deploying both tactical vehicles and motorcycles to cut off the fleeing criminals.
The speed, coordination and terrain mastery of the soldiers quickly overwhelmed the terrorists, who were forced to abandon their captives and disappear into the surrounding scrubland.
The operation led to the safe rescue of five adult males, three adult females and three children, all of whom had endured 92 harrowing days in captivity following their abduction from Gada Mallam Maman Community on October 26, 2025.
For the rescued victims, the dramatic midnight intervention brought an abrupt end to months of fear, deprivation and uncertainty.
Military sources confirmed that the hostages were stabilised and are receiving appropriate care, while follow-up operations are ongoing to track and neutralise the fleeing terrorists.
Beyond the immediate rescue, the operation signals a broader strategic shift: the Nigerian Army’s tight integration of advanced surveillance technology with fast-moving ground forces, particularly along critical transport corridors repeatedly targeted by criminal networks.
Security analysts say the success sends a clear message to armed groups operating in the North-West and North-Central corridors that darkness is no longer a shield and that escape routes are increasingly under constant watch.
As pressure mounts across flashpoints, the Army has reiterated its determination to secure key highways, protect civilian lives and deny terrorists and kidnappers freedom of movement by day or by night.
