Intelligence-led ops underway to rescue Kaduna church abductees

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops and intelligence assets have been deployed to support the safe rescue of residents abducted from Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state. The military says it has taken note of community concerns and is prioritising the recovery of all victims per TheCable report .

What the military says it is doing

Michael Onoja, director of defence media operations, said security forces are continuing intelligence-driven operations in Kurmin Wali and surrounding forested areas believed to be used by the kidnappers. According to the DHQ account, the response includes:

• Ground patrols to locate routes and possible holding areas

• Surveillance missions to map movements and reduce blind spots

• Intelligence gathering to identify networks and logistics supporting the kidnappers

• Targeted actions designed to extract hostages without increasing risk to those in captivity

Onoja said the military’s restraint in certain phases of the operation is deliberate, arguing that rushing an assault without verified information could endanger hostages. He added that efforts are also aimed at dismantling the criminal networks linked to the abductions.

Why “intelligence-led” matters in a hostage rescue