Troops rescue 23 kidnap victims after Kogi attack

Abdullateef Fowewe

Troops of 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued 23 passengers after a swift counter-kidnapping operation along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The rescue operation according to a statement obtained from the Nigerian Army on Monday was launched in the early hours of June 1, 2026 after suspected bandits barricaded the highway and abducted several passengers.

Acting on a distress call received at about 3:30 a.m., troops deployed within the Kabba metropolis “immediately staged a rescue operation to the scene,” the military said.

Although the kidnappers fled before security forces arrived, troops “swiftly initiated an aggressive pursuit along the criminals’ suspected withdrawal routes.”

During an assessment of the attack scene, soldiers recovered two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside.

Two victims were confirmed dead, while five others sustained injuries and were evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, where they are receiving treatment.

The statement said the “relentless pressure mounted by the pursuing troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 23 of their captives, who were subsequently rescued unharmed and secured.”

Troops continue to dominate the general area and are conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations aimed at locating and recovering any remaining victims still in captivity.

The Nigerian Army said it remains “resolute in denying criminal elements freedom of action” and will continue to work with other security agencies and local stakeholders to strengthen security across Kogi State and the nation.

The public has been urged to “please continue supporting ongoing security efforts by providing timely and credible information to relevant security agencies.”