Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued nine more travellers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Ajaokuta–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The latest rescue operation came two days after a joint security team comprising military personnel, police officers, local vigilantes and hunters rescued 16 other travellers abducted along different roads in the state.
The latest operation is part of renewed security efforts to tackle kidnapping and other forms of criminality along major highways in Kogi, particularly routes linking communities in the central and eastern parts of the state.
In a statement, the Nigerian Army said the operation was carried out by troops deployed at Patrol Base Itobe after receiving information that suspected kidnappers had attacked commuters and taken several passengers into the bush.
The troops immediately moved to the area after receiving the report.
On arrival at the scene, the soldiers found two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna, abandoned by the roadside.
The passengers who had been travelling in the vehicles were nowhere to be found, leading the troops to conclude that they had been taken into the bush by the attackers.
The Army said the troops immediately launched a pursuit operation, using the route believed to have been taken by the fleeing kidnappers.
The pursuit continued towards the outskirts of Adumu community in Dekina Local Government Area, where the soldiers eventually made contact with the suspected kidnappers.
A gun battle followed between the troops and the criminals.
According to the Army, the soldiers overwhelmed the kidnappers with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bush.
“During the ensuing firefight, the troops overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower, compelling them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds,” the statement said.
The operation led to the rescue of nine victims.
Those rescued comprised two elderly men, two elderly women, four other adult males and an infant.
The victims were immediately evacuated from the area and taken to safety.
The Army said they were later handed over to the Nigeria Police, Itobe Area Command, for further action and reunification with their families.
The latest rescue highlights the continuing security challenge along some major roads in Kogi State, where criminal gangs have targeted travellers and commuters.
The Ajaokuta–Itobe axis is an important route linking communities within Kogi and providing access to other parts of the state. Security along the route is therefore important to residents, traders, transport workers and other road users who depend on it for their daily activities.
Kidnapping has remained a major security concern in several parts of Nigeria, with criminal groups often taking advantage of isolated roads, forests and difficult terrain to attack travellers and hide their victims.
Kogi, located in Nigeria’s North-Central region, has in recent years recorded several kidnapping incidents along major highways and rural communities. The state’s location, which connects the northern and southern parts of the country, makes its major roads important transit routes.
The latest operation also came shortly after another successful rescue mission in the state.
Two days earlier, a joint security team rescued 16 travellers who had been abducted along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads.
The team included military personnel, police officers, local vigilantes and hunters.
The rescue of the 16 victims and the subsequent operation by the Army resulting in the rescue of nine more victims indicate increased security activity along the affected routes.
The involvement of local vigilantes and hunters is also significant because communities in areas affected by kidnapping often rely on people familiar with the local terrain to support formal security agencies.
Such cooperation can help security personnel track criminals who retreat into forests and other difficult-to-access areas after carrying out attacks.
However, the continued attacks also highlight the need for sustained security operations and better protection for travellers using the roads.
The Army said its troops had continued the pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers following the latest encounter.
It added that coordinated search operations were also ongoing in an effort to rescue any other victims who might still be in captivity and arrest those responsible for the attack.
The suspected gunshot injuries suffered by some of the kidnappers during the encounter could also assist security agencies in identifying and tracking members of the group, although the Army did not provide further details about possible arrests.
The rescued victims are expected to undergo necessary checks and receive support from the authorities before being reunited with their families.
Kidnap victims often spend days or weeks in difficult conditions while in captivity, making their safe recovery an important part of security operations.
The Army’s latest operation also reinforces the importance of timely information from members of the public.
In many kidnapping cases, security agencies depend on reports from residents, motorists and other road users to respond quickly to attacks.
Improved communication between communities and security agencies can help reduce the time between an attack and the deployment of security personnel.
The Nigerian Army said it remained committed to protecting lives and property and would continue operations aimed at dismantling criminal groups operating along the affected routes.
The rescue of the nine travellers is expected to provide relief to their families and communities, while security personnel continue efforts to locate the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks.
Authorities are also expected to sustain patrols along the Ajaokuta–Itobe corridor and neighbouring routes to reassure commuters and discourage criminal elements from returning to the area.
The latest development comes at a time when security agencies across the country are under increasing pressure to tackle kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.
For residents and road users in Kogi, the immediate priority remains the restoration of confidence on major highways and ensuring that travellers can move freely without fear of abduction.