Troops Rescue 21 Kidnap Victims in Kogi Forests
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), local hunters and vigilante groups, have rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The victims were rescued on Monday, August 31, 2026, during a coordinated search operation conducted in the Egume and Ochaja forest areas following reports of the mass abduction of road users along the Alloma–Ejule–Itobe road axis.
According to a statement by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the operation was launched after troops received credible intelligence on the location of the victims.
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He said personnel from the Brigade, alongside other security agencies and local security groups, mobilised from the headquarters of 21 Battalion and conducted a coordinated search of adjoining forests.
The operation resulted in the rescue of 21 victims comprising eight males and 13 females.
However, one of the male victims sustained a gunshot wound and was immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
The rescued victims are currently in the custody of the troops pending their handover to the appropriate authorities.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, commended the troops and other security personnel, hunters and vigilantes for their courage, cooperation and commitment to the successful operation.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities.
The rescue comes amid heightened security concerns over the activities of kidnapping gangs along major highways and forest corridors in Kogi and neighbouring states.
