Kogi government praises security forces for rescuing 21 kidnapped victims

The Kogi State Government has praised security forces for rescuing 21 people who were kidnapped by suspected criminals in the Dekina Local Government Area.

Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, shared this news in a statement on Tuesday. He said the rescue operation showed how well security agencies can work together.

The victims included eight men and 13 women. They were rescued on Monday by troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, along with the police, State Security Service, local hunters, and vigilante groups.

According to the statement, the operation was triggered by reports of road users being kidnapped on the Alloma-Ejule-Itobe road.

Security forces acted on tips and searched the Egume and Ochaja forest areas. They found and rescued all 21 victims.

One of the rescued men had a gunshot injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment, the government said.

Governor Ahmed Ododo thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their quick action in this case.

“Criminals will always regret stepping their feet in Kogi State. We will never bow to cowards who carry guns against the state. Kogi is always ready to fight any threat to lives and property,” Mr Ododo stated.

Mr Fanwo remarked that this rescue shows the commitment of the federal government and security agencies to fight kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

The government also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the DSS, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and all other security officials involved in the operation.

This rescue happens in the middle of several kidnapping cases along roads and forest areas in Kogi.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on August 28 that 15 NYSC members were kidnapped while traveling from Bayelsa State to Abuja. The Kogi Police Command later confirmed that 11 victims were rescued, while the search for others continued.

On August 31, President Tinubu announced that all 15 corps members and six other kidnapped people were freed from a hideout in the forests of Ofu LGA.

A rescued corps member, David Ayodele, later said the kidnappers threatened to keep the victims in the forest for one month and kill them. He added that the victims were beaten and kicked as they were taken into the bush.

The latest rescue operation also comes after an August 9 attack in Ofu LGA. Commuters were kidnapped along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe roads. The Nigerian Army later reported that 16 victims were rescued after troops fought with the kidnappers near Adumu in Dekina.

Earlier, on July 16, the Kogi Government announced the rescue of a school principal, a NECO official, and two students who were abducted during an attack on an examination center in Olowa, Dekina LGA.

Mr Ododo urged residents to stay alert and provide reliable information to security agencies to help in the fight against kidnapping and other crimes in the state.