Security forces have rescued 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and six other victims from kidnappers in Kogi State after a gun battle that reportedly left four suspected abductors dead.
The successful operation followed days of search-and-rescue efforts after the victims were abducted along a highway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Kankarofi, disclosed details of the operation during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
According to him, security agencies immediately mobilised after receiving reports that the corps members and other travellers had been abducted.
How Security Forces Tracked the Kidnappers
Kankarofi said an emergency meeting involving the Brigade Commander, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) was convened shortly after the alert was received.
Security commanders subsequently designed a search-and-rescue operation aimed at locating the abductors and securing the release of the victims.
“As soon as we were alerted, we put all necessary measures in place to ensure they were rescued and returned to their families,” Kankarofi said.
He explained that security personnel eventually narrowed down the location of the suspected kidnappers and sought assistance from local vigilantes and hunters familiar with the terrain.
“We fashioned out a search-and-rescue operation, which commenced immediately. As the situation unfolded, we narrowed down to a particular spot and sought the support of local vigilantes and hunters who know the terrain very well,” he said.
The development is the latest in a series of security operations along Kogi’s highways. The Bureau Journal had earlier reported the abduction of passengers from three buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway, another incident that prompted a joint search operation in the area.
Gun Battle At Kidnappers’ Camp
According to the police commissioner, the search operation eventually led security forces to the kidnappers’ camp on Monday afternoon.
He said operatives arrived at the location at about 4 p.m., triggering a gun battle with the suspected abductors.
“Around 4:00 p.m. yesterday, we arrived at the camp of the kidnappers. There was a serious gun battle; they were eventually overpowered, and all the corps members were rescued,” Kankarofi said.
Four suspected kidnappers were killed during the exchange of gunfire, while several others reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.
Security personnel have continued operations in the surrounding area in an effort to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The commissioner said neighbouring security formations had also been alerted to prevent the suspects from escaping through adjoining routes.
21 Victims Rescued From Kogi Forest
The rescued group comprised 21 people, including the 15 NYSC members who were travelling from Bayelsa State.
The victims were reportedly abducted after entering Kogi State along the Itobe-Ajaokuta Highway at about 5 p.m.
“When they entered Kogi along the Itobe-Ajaokuta Highway around 5:00 p.m., they were attacked and abducted into the bush alongside passengers from another vehicle coming from the opposite direction,” the police commissioner said.
The rescue brings to a successful conclusion a tense operation that had generated considerable concern among relatives of the corps members and other victims.
The Bureau Journal had previously reported that 11 victims were initially rescued after the Kogi NYSC abduction, while security agencies continued searching for those still in captivity.
As the operation progressed, the number of rescued victims rose to all 21 people who had been held by the kidnappers.
Two Victims Sustained Gunshot Injuries
Although the operation ended with the rescue of all the victims, Kankarofi disclosed that two people sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation.
One of those injured was an NYSC member, while the other was a civilian who had been travelling in the second vehicle attacked by the kidnappers.
Both victims were reportedly shot in the right leg.
The police commissioner did not disclose the identities or current medical condition of the injured victims.
Police Say Four Kidnappers Were Killed
Kankarofi said four suspected kidnappers were killed during the gun battle, while other members of the group escaped with injuries.
“Four of the kidnappers were killed during the exchange of fire, and several escaped with bullet wounds,” he said.
He added that security forces were still conducting operations in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent them from regrouping.
The Kogi Command has also established contact with the police command in neighbouring Enugu State because of the possibility that the fleeing suspects could attempt to escape through routes leading into the state.
Rescue Comes After Ransom Demand Report
The successful operation comes shortly after relatives of some of the victims disclosed that kidnappers had reportedly demanded ₦20 million for each NYSC member still in captivity.
The Bureau Journal previously reported the alleged ₦20 million ransom demand, which intensified concerns over the safety of the corps members.
Families had appealed to the Federal Government, NYSC management and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those still being held.
The subsequent rescue operation has now secured the freedom of all 15 NYSC members and six other victims.
Attack Highlights Security Concerns Along Kogi Highways
The incident has nevertheless renewed concerns about the security of travellers using major highways and forest corridors in Kogi State.
Earlier, The Bureau Journal reported the killing of Kogi APC chairman Ishaq Yunusa and the abduction of another occupant of his vehicle along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway.
The attack occurred in Ofu Local Government Area, the same broader area where the NYSC members and other travellers were subsequently abducted.
The repeated incidents have increased pressure on security agencies to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities along vulnerable transport corridors.
The Kogi State Government has also been pursuing measures aimed at strengthening security across the state. The Bureau Journal recently reported moves by the Kogi State House of Assembly to strengthen the legal framework for tackling terrorists and criminals entering the state.
Kogi Police Urge Travellers To Remain Calm
Despite the latest incident, Kankarofi described the abduction as an isolated case and maintained that Kogi State remained generally peaceful.
“Kogi State has been generally peaceful and calm. The security forces here are very effective and respond promptly,” he said.
He also urged travellers not to be deterred from using roads across the state.
“You can feel free to travel through Kogi State with nothing to worry about,” the commissioner said.
Security personnel, meanwhile, remain deployed in the affected area as the search continues for the suspected kidnappers who escaped during the gun battle.
The successful rescue represents a major breakthrough for the families of the 21 victims, while the continuing hunt for the fleeing suspects is expected to determine whether the criminal group responsible for the attack can be dismantled.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments from Kogi State and provide updates on the security operation and the condition of the rescued victims.
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