Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, local hunters and vigilante groups, have rescued 21 victims of kidnapping in Kogi State.
The victims were rescued during a coordinated joint operation conducted on Sunday in the Egume and Ochaja forest areas of Dekina Local Government Area.
The operation followed reports of the mass abduction of road users along the Alloma–Ejule–Itobe road axis.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops and other security personnel, supported by local hunters and vigilantes, mobilised from the Headquarters of the 21 Battalion and launched a coordinated search of adjoining forests in the area.
The joint security team subsequently located and rescued all 21 victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, from the Egume and Ochaja forest areas.
However, one of the male victims sustained a gunshot wound during the incident and was immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
The Nigerian Army said the rescued victims were currently in the custody of the troops, while arrangements were being made to hand them over to the appropriate authorities.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, commended the troops and personnel of other security agencies, as well as local hunters and vigilantes, for their roles in the successful rescue operation.
“The Chief of Army Staff commended the troops, personnel of other security agencies, local hunters and vigilantes for their courage, cooperation and commitment, which led to the successful rescue of the victims,” the statement said.
Shaibu also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide security agencies with timely and credible information to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.
“Members of the public should remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality,” the Army said.
The successful rescue comes amid intensified security operations across Kogi State, particularly along major highways and forest routes that have witnessed incidents of kidnapping and other criminal activities.
The statement was signed by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army.
