Abducted Soldier Escapes, Reaches Benue Military Facility

A Nigerian soldier abducted by suspected kidnappers has escaped from captivity and reached a military facility in Makurdi, Benue State.

NEWSNGR reports that counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a post on 𝕏.

Makama said the soldier, attached to the 130 Battalion, Baga, was abducted on June 27 while travelling on a welfare pass to the rear location of the battalion in Ogoja, Cross River State.

He said intelligence from the 401 Intelligence Cell in Makurdi confirmed around 11:53 am on June 30 that the soldier had escaped from his captors.

According to Makama, the soldier made his way to the 72 Special Forces Battalion in Makurdi after escaping.

He said the circumstances surrounding the escape were not immediately disclosed.

Military authorities are said to be making arrangements to move the soldier to the 130 Battalion rear location in Ogoja for debriefing, medical evaluation and other administrative procedures.

“Investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances of the abduction and identify those responsible,” Makama said.

In other news, four residents were killed on Tuesday when bandits attacked Dansarai, a farming community in the Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The attackers, however, suffered casualties as villagers, supported by local vigilantes, fought back and reportedly killed four of the bandits.

Residents who spoke with Daily Trust said the gunmen stormed the community on motorcycles, armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles.

The attackers were said to have opened fire indiscriminately on villagers.