Army rescues 23 passengers kidnapped on Kogi road

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 23 passengers taken by suspected kidnappers on the Ayegunle-Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The rescue happened during an operation carried out by the troops in the early hours of Monday.

The Nigerian Army Headquarters shared on its official platform that the operation started after troops got a distress call around 3:30 a.m. The call reported that armed men blocked the highway and took several travellers.

The Army stated that soldiers stationed in the Kabba area quickly moved to the scene. They started a chase after the kidnappers left before the security forces arrived.

While checking the area, troops found two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck that had been left along the road.

The Army reported that two people died during the attack. Five others were hurt and taken to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, for treatment.

The Army noted that pressure on the kidnappers during the chase made them leave 23 captives behind, who were later rescued without harm.

"Troops have continued to patrol the area and are conducting thorough search-and-rescue operations to find and safely bring back any remaining victims still held captive," the Army said.

This incident follows earlier reports of a deadly attack in Ayegunle-Bunu by suspected terrorists.

As previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES, the local newspaper Egbe Mekun Parrot said armed men attacked the area early Monday. They killed at least one person and kidnapped more than 15 others, including passengers in a commercial vehicle.

The attack raised worries about security in Kogi West and along main routes connecting Kogi State with nearby states.

The recent rescue operation also comes as military operations intensify across Kogi State under Operation Tiger Paw II.

In the past weeks, troops from the 12 Brigade rescued victims taken from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Zariagi, Lokoja Local Government Area, after a long search-and-rescue mission.

The military also reported the arrest of a suspected terrorist logistics courier. This person was allegedly moving 500 rounds of ammunition hidden in a bag of maize. They also recovered weapons and ammunition during an ambush against suspected terrorists in the Adankolo Forest Reserve.

Security agencies have ramped up operations across various parts of the state after a series of kidnappings, communal clashes, and attacks on rural communities.

The Army reaffirmed its commitment to stopping criminal groups and urged the public to keep supporting security agencies with reliable, timely information.

The military said efforts continue to find any remaining victims and catch those who carried out the attack.