Troops of 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in a coordinated joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Service, local hunters and vigilantes, have successfully rescued 21 kidnapped victims from a forest in Kogi State.
The Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Lt Hassan Abdullahi, said the operation that led to the rescue of the kidnap victims was conducted on August 31, 2026 in the Egume and Ochaja forest areas of Dekina Local Government Area.
However, the Kogi State Police Command said ten corps members were among those rescued by the joint security operation in the Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to the state commissioner of police, the operation was still ongoing, with the potential to rescue all the victims kidnapped in an attack involving two buses recently.
He said, “Security forces have intensified operations within the area and are making concerted efforts to locate and safely rescue the remaining victims, while simultaneously pursuing the perpetrators responsible for the attack.”
The army said the operation followed reports of a mass abduction of road users along the Alloma–Ejule–Itobe road axis few days ago.
He added, “Acting on credible intelligence, troops, alongside other security agencies, local hunters and vigilantes, mobilised from Headquarters 21 Battalion and conducted a coordinated search of the adjoining forests.
“During the operation, the joint team successfully rescued all 21 kidnapped victims, comprising 8 males and 13 females, from the Egume and Ochaja forest areas.
“Unfortunately, one of the male victims sustained a gunshot wound and was promptly evacuated to a medical facility for immediate treatment.
“The rescued victims are currently in the custody of the troops, while necessary arrangements are being made to hand them over to the appropriate authorities.
“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, 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.”
He therefore urged members of the public to 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.
As at the time of filing this report, the rescued corps members were being expected at the state police headquarters in Lokoja.
The state police boss said one of the rescued corps members was being treated of gun shot wound in the hospital, saying another victim rescued in an earlier operation had been reunited with his family in Abuja.
