Security forces in Kogi State have rescued several kidnapped victims after a coordinated forest operation.
Officers acted on timely intelligence and carried out the mission carefully to ensure everyone’s safe recovery.
Joint security forces, led by the Nigerian Army, have successfully carried out a major rescue operation that freed fifteen kidnapped victims from deep forest hideouts in the Ajaokuta and Itobe areas of Kogi State. The operation was launched after officers received reliable intelligence that revealed the exact locations where the abducted persons were being held.
Security sources explained that the team first used tear gas to force the kidnappers to abandon their positions inside the forest. After creating enough confusion among the criminals, the operatives moved further into the bush and safely retrieved the victims. The rescue mission was carried out with careful coordination to avoid harming any of the captives.
The individuals rescued include Joe Stephen, who is thirty five years old, along with Gift Alex, Samaila Mohamed, Sani Mahamud, Abbas Sani, Abdullahi Aminu, Ibrahim Gambo, Ishaku Ibrahim and Muhammed Salisu. Six additional victims were also removed from the forest and immediately taken to medical facilities for proper care. Health workers are monitoring their conditions, and early reports show that most of them are stable.
Security officials stated that the freed victims have already given important information that will help investigators trace the kidnappers who managed to escape during the operation. According to one security source, the victims shared details that will support the ongoing search for the criminals. The source explained that the goal is to ensure the fleeing suspects are captured and brought to justice.
In a different operation conducted along the Ayere Kabba Road, security personnel also rescued three other kidnapped victims. They are Usman from Nasarawa State, Isah Idris from Niger State and Morina William from Gombe State. These three individuals were abducted on November 7 and kept inside another forest camp before being located and freed by the security team.
Authorities have reassured the public that security operations across Kogi State will continue without slowing down. They emphasized that the government and security agencies remain committed to removing all criminal groups from the state and restoring safety to affected communities.
