A joint security team led by the Nigerian Army has rescued all 16 persons abducted by suspected kidnappers in Kogi State, in an operation that underscores the growing synergy between the military and local security forces.
The victims—six adult males, six adult females, and four children—were abducted on Sunday, 9 August 2026, when armed criminals attacked commuters along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area . According to a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the rescue followed actionable intelligence indicating the victims had been moved to the vicinity of Adumu Community in Dekina Local Government Area .
Troops of 21 Battalion and personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard, working alongside the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes, and hunters, immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
The joint security team made contact with the fleeing kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce gun battle. Overwhelmed by the security forces’ superior firepower and coordinated assault, the criminals abandoned their captives and escaped into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds.
The rescued victims are currently undergoing documentation and medical assessment before being reunited with their families.
The operation, however, came at a cost. One local hunter who participated courageously in the mission paid the supreme sacrifice, while a police personnel sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment . Security sources confirmed the victims have been handed over to the police in Ajaokuta for further action .
The rescue comes as security forces in Kogi intensify operations against kidnapping, a persistent threat along the state’s rural roads . The Nigerian Army commended the public for their cooperation and timely provision of credible information, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities .
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