Sixteen travellers abducted by suspected kidnappers in Kogi State have been rescued following a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and community-based security personnel.
The victims were recovered on Monday after security operatives confronted the kidnappers near Adumu Community in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, according to the Nigerian Army, followed intelligence received by security authorities concerning the movement of the abducted travellers after they were taken from different routes in Ofu Local Government Area.
The victims had reportedly been kidnapped on Sunday while travelling along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads.
Their abduction heightened security concerns in the affected areas, prompting security agencies to mobilise personnel and commence efforts to locate the victims and track down their captors.
The Nigerian Army spokesperson, Col. Appolonia Anele, confirmed the successful rescue in a statement issued on Tuesday.
She said troops from the 21 Battalion, working with personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard, launched the operation after receiving credible information that the kidnappers had moved their captives towards the Adumu axis.
The operation was not carried out by the military alone. Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and hunters also participated in the search and rescue effort.
According to Anele, the combined team moved into the area and eventually located the fleeing kidnappers.
A confrontation subsequently broke out between the security personnel and the suspected abductors.
“During the operation, the joint security team established contact with the fleeing kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce firefight,” the Army spokesperson said.
The exchange of gunfire reportedly forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee deeper into the surrounding forest.
Anele said the criminals were overwhelmed by the superior firepower and coordinated approach of the security personnel, adding that some of the fleeing suspects were believed to have sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter.
With the kidnappers forced to retreat, the security team was able to secure the area and recover all 16 victims.
The rescued group consisted of six adult men, six adult women and four children.
The Army said the victims were taken into custody for necessary documentation and medical checks following their rescue.
The process is expected to be completed before they are reunited with their families.
However, the successful operation was accompanied by casualties among the personnel who took part in the rescue effort.
A local hunter who joined the security team in the operation was killed during the gun battle.
A police officer also suffered injuries in the confrontation and was subsequently taken for medical treatment.
Anele described the death of the hunter as a painful loss, while recognising the courage displayed by him and other members of the team who participated in the operation.
“Regrettably, one local hunter who participated courageously in the operation paid the supreme sacrifice. May his soul rest in peace,” she said.
The Army spokesperson added that a police personnel was also injured during the encounter and was receiving medical attention.
The identities of the rescued victims and the injured police officer were not immediately made public.
Similarly, the Army did not provide details on the number of kidnappers who may have been wounded or whether any suspect had been arrested following the gun battle.
The operation, however, represents another coordinated effort by security agencies and local security stakeholders to disrupt kidnapping activities in parts of Kogi State.
Kidnapping remains a major security concern in several parts of Nigeria, with criminals often taking advantage of forests and remote routes to abduct travellers and demand ransom from their families.
The involvement of local hunters and vigilantes in the Kogi operation also highlights the growing reliance on community-based intelligence and personnel who are familiar with difficult terrains in the fight against criminal groups.
The Army commended the personnel who participated in the rescue operation, particularly the local hunter who lost his life.
Anele said their actions reflected the commitment of security personnel and other stakeholders to protecting civilians and confronting criminal elements.
She further stressed that cooperation between the military, police, Navy and local security groups remains important in responding to kidnapping and other violent crimes.
According to her, the successful rescue demonstrates the value of sustained joint operations, intelligence gathering and collaboration between formal security agencies and local security stakeholders.
The Army maintained that security forces would continue efforts to deny criminal groups the freedom to operate and endanger innocent citizens.
The rescue also comes as security agencies continue to intensify operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in vulnerable communities and along major travel routes.
For the rescued families, however, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their loved ones after the ordeal.
The authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the abduction, while efforts to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspects are likely to form part of subsequent security operations in the area.
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