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Troops rescue 15 kidnap victims, nab two suspects in nationwide operations
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 15 kidnap victims and arrested two suspected kidnappers in separate operations across Edo, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi and Plateau states.
An operational report indicated that the operations were conducted between October 1 and 2.
In Edo State, the report said the troops of 195 Battalion, responding to a kidnap incident along the Ekor-Ikakumo road in Akoko-Edo, rescued three victims.
It said the troops exploited the kidnappers’ withdrawal route and rescued the victims, including the driver of a passenger bus travelling from Makurdi to Ibadan, Oyo State.
In Kaduna State, the report said the troops of Sector 7, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), foiled a kidnap attempt along the Godogodo-Gidan Waya road in the Jema’a Local Government Area.
It added that the intervention forced the kidnappers to abandon a victim who sustained gunshot wounds and flee.
According to the report, the victim was evacuated to the General Hospital, Gidan Waya, for treatment, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing criminals.
“In another operation, troops of the same sector arrested two suspected kidnappers at Makasa Village in Sanga Local Government Area.
“Meanwhile, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations in Benue and Kogi.
“In Katsina-Ala, Benue, troops responded to kidnapping activities at Gbise, forcing the criminals to flee and abandon three victims,” it said.
The report addedthat troops operating in conjunction with vigilantes rescued three kidnapped herders at Agbadu Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It added that the criminals fled following the troops’ intervention, abandoning the victims and 21 cattle, which were also recovered.
In Rivers State, the report said the troops of 16 Brigade, in conjunction with 5 Battalion, discovered 60 sacks containing about 3,000 litres of illegally refined products and a drum at Ogbogolo Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area.
The report added that therecovered items were handled in line with extant regulations.
(NAN)
The Bank of Industry (BOI) said it will expand financing for agriculture, local healthcare manufacturing and digital businesses in 2027.
The bank stated this as it seeks to consolidate the gains of its 2025–2027 corporate strategy and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial development.
The bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olasupo Olusi, disclosed the plan on Thursday at a meeting in Lagos, where he outlined the bank’s priorities for the final year of the strategy.
Mr Olusi said BOI would work with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on the National Industrial Finance Compact to attract more long-term capital into Nigeria’s industrial sector.
He also said the bank would deploy its new European Investment Bank facilities to agriculture and local healthcare manufacturing to increase domestic production of food and medicines.
The funding includes €85 million secured from the European Investment Bank for agriculture and another €50 million for healthcare manufacturing in 2026, as part of more than €2.2 billion in new funding the bank has secured for Nigerian industry since 2024.
READ ALSO: BOI supports 1.68m jobs as lending rises 26% to ₦644.9 billion
“We will deploy our new European Investment Bank facilities into agriculture and local healthcare manufacturing, so that Nigeria produces more of the food and medicines it consumes,” he said.
The bank also plans to expand its information and communications technology (ICT) and digital economy portfolio through the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme.
Mr Olusi said the initiatives formed part of the bank’s efforts to consolidate its achievements and meet the targets of its 2025–2027 corporate strategy.
“2027 is the final year of our strategy, and our task is to consolidate and meet every target we set,” the BOI boss, Mr Olusi, said.
BOI said it disbursed N644.9 billion in 2025, reaching 12,501 businesses and supporting 1.68 million jobs.
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