Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the police and local vigilante groups, have rescued eight passengers who were abducted by gunmen along the Okene–Auchi highway in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident occurred on Thursday, September 26, at Tyre Village, when nine armed men, dressed in military camouflage, ambushed a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd.
The bus, with registration number FUG 13 XY, was travelling from Abuja to Benin City, Edo State, with 12 passengers onboard when the attackers struck. The gunmen whisked the passengers into the nearby forest, sparking immediate response from security forces.
Troops, supported by local vigilante groups, engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun battle, leading to the rescue of eight victims, including the bus driver, who were all unharmed. During the operation, four expended 7.62x39mm ammunition were recovered at the scene.
Security operatives are currently combing the surrounding forest in a bid to rescue the remaining four passengers still in captivity. Authorities have urged commuters to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies as efforts continue to ensure safety along the highway.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, revealed that the police, in collaboration with the military, managed to rescue eight of the victims, while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining four still held by the kidnappers.
A statement issued by the command late on Friday evening in response to an enquiry confirmed the abduction but noted that about eight of the victims were rescued, with the police and army searching for the remaining four.
The statement reads, “Kidnappers attacked a Big Joe Ventures Ltd Toyota Hiace commuter bus (Edo FUG 13 XY) along Okene–Auchi road. During the incident, the kidnappers abducted all 12 passengers commuting from Abuja to Benin in Edo State
He said that subsequently, the DPO Okene Division, CSP Nasir Muhammad, immediately mobilised police personnel in conjunction with the military and vigilantes in pursuit of the kidnappers.
He added, “In the process, eight victims, including the driver, were rescued, while efforts are still underway to rescue the remaining four victims and possibly arrest the perpetrators.”
On September 12, 2025, PUNCH Online reported that troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, in conjunction with Hybrid Forces and local vigilantes, rescued 17 kidnapped victims, including 13 adults and four children.
This was contained in a statement issued by the acting assistant director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi.