Nine commuters, including an infant and four elderly passengers, have been rescued by Nigerian Army troops following a kidnapping attack along the Ajaokuta-Itobe Road in Kogi State.
The rescue operation took place on Tuesday after suspected kidnappers reportedly attacked commuters and abducted an unspecified number of passengers along the busy route.
According to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, troops from the Nigerian Army’s 21 Battalion, deployed at Patrol Base Itobe, quickly mobilised to the area after receiving information about the attack.
When the soldiers arrived, they discovered an abandoned Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle believed to have been used by the victims.
The troops subsequently followed the suspected kidnappers’ withdrawal route and eventually made contact with the group around Adumu community in Dekina Local Government Area.
A confrontation followed, with the troops engaging the suspected kidnappers and forcing them to abandon the victims before fleeing into the surrounding area.
The rescued commuters comprised two elderly men, two elderly women, four men and an infant.
The victims were subsequently handed over to the Police Area Command in Itobe for further assistance and necessary action.
Meanwhile, security personnel are continuing efforts to locate and rescue any other commuters who may still be in the kidnappers’ custody.
The successful operation comes amid continued security concerns along major roads in parts of Kogi State, where travellers have faced the threat of kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Troops Rescue 9 Kidnap Victims After Gunmen Attack Commuters in Kogi
- Advertisment -