Military, police rescue kidnapped victims in Kogi

Abdullateef Fowewe

A joint security operation involving the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police, and local vigilantes has successfully rescued all 16 persons abducted over the weekend in Kogi State, the Army confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.

The victims were kidnapped on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when armed criminals attacked commuters along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area, the statement said.

Acting on intelligence that the captives had been moved to the vicinity of Adumu Community in Dekina LGA, troops of the 21 Battalion and personnel of NNS Lugard launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation with police, vigilantes, and hunters.

During the operation, the joint team “established contact with the fleeing kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce firefight,” forcing the suspects to abandon all 16 captives and flee into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds, according to the Army.

The rescued victims—six adult males, six adult females, and four children are undergoing documentation, medical assessment, and reunification with their families.

Tragically, one local hunter “paid the supreme sacrifice” during the operation, while one police officer sustained injuries and is receiving treatment, the statement added.

The Army said the rescue “underscores the effectiveness of sustained joint operations and the synergy among the Nigerian Army, sister security agencies and local security stakeholders in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes.”

It also commended the public for providing “credible information,” urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through official channels.