In a major breakthrough against banditry, troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, working alongside Hybrid Forces and local vigilantes, have rescued 17 kidnapped victims, including four children, in Kogi State.
According to a statement by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the rescue operation took place on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The victims were abducted while travelling in a 17-seater bus from Osun State to Abuja along the Obajana–Lokoja Road.
Abdullahi explained that troops stationed at Patrol Base Apata received credible intelligence about the abduction near Opamaru Village. Acting swiftly, the patrol team, reinforced by the Brigade Quick Response Group (QRG), mobilized to the scene.
Upon arrival, they found the bus abandoned by the roadside with no passengers in sight. Using tactical tracking techniques, the soldiers trailed the kidnappers’ footprints to Wuro Village in Adavi Local Government Area. There, they engaged the criminals in a fierce exchange of fire.
“Overpowered by the troops’ superior firepower, the kidnappers fled into the bush with gunshot wounds, abandoning all 17 captives,” Abdullahi said.
The rescued victims, comprising 13 adults and four children, were taken to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for first aid and stabilization before being reunited with their families.
The Nigerian Army assured the public of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and urged citizens to provide timely information to aid ongoing security operations.
This rescue marks another decisive step in the military’s ongoing efforts to curb insecurity in Kogi State and across the country.
