- Victims include elderly persons and an infant; military says pursuit of fleeing gunmen continues
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued nine commuters who were kidnapped along the Ajaokuta–Itobe Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, following a swift military response to the attack.
According to the Nigerian Army, the rescue was carried out by troops attached to Patrol Base Itobe after receiving distress reports that suspected kidnappers had ambushed commuters and abducted several passengers along the busy route.
On arriving at the scene, the troops found a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle abandoned by the roadside, with all their passengers missing, indicating the victims had already been taken into the bush by their abductors.
Acting without delay, the soldiers launched a pursuit operation, tracking the withdrawal route suspected to have been used by the fleeing criminals. The chase took the troops to the outskirts of Adumu community in neighbouring Dekina Local Government Area, where they eventually caught up with the kidnappers.
A fierce exchange of gunfire followed, during which the troops overpowered the criminals with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bush. The military said some of the fleeing suspects were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds in the encounter.
The operation led to the rescue of all nine victims, made up of two elderly men, two elderly women, four other adult males and one infant. They were evacuated to safety and subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Itobe Area Command for further action and eventual reunification with their families.
The Nigerian Army said troops have sustained the pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers, with coordinated search operations ongoing to track down the remaining suspects and forestall further attacks along the corridor.
In a statement, the Army reassured members of the public of its continued commitment, working alongside other security agencies, to protecting lives and property across the country. It also urged citizens to keep supporting security operations by providing timely and credible information that can aid a prompt response to criminal activities in their areas.
Kidnapping along highways in parts of Kogi State has remained a recurring security concern, with security agencies repeatedly urging motorists to exercise caution while travelling, particularly along less-policed rural routes.
