Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, in a joint operation with Hybrid Forces and local vigilantes, have rescued 17 kidnapped passengers — 13 adults and four children — from armed criminals in Kogi State.
Confirming the report, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations 12 Brigade Nigerian Army Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi said the rescue, which took place on 10 September 2025, followed swift military action after troops at Patrol Base Apata received credible intelligence of a kidnap incident at Opamaru Village along the Obajana–Lokoja Road. The victims, who were travelling in a 17-seater bus from Osun State to Abuja, were ambushed by gunmen who diverted them into the bush.
According to military sources, the criminals abandoned the bus by the roadside before leading their captives on foot into a nearby forest. In response, troops reinforced by the Brigade Quick Response Group (QRG) mobilised immediately and tracked the kidnappers’ trail using combat field craft.
The pursuit led to Wuro Village in Adavi Local Government Area, where the troops engaged the kidnappers. Outmatched by superior firepower, the criminals fled with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoning all 17 captives.
The victims were safely evacuated to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for first aid and stabilisation. None of the passengers sustained life-threatening injuries.
Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, confirmed the operation in a statement. He said the success was a product of credible intelligence and seamless coordination between the Nigerian Army, Hybrid Forces, and local vigilantes.
“The Nigerian Army reassures the general public of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property. We urge citizens to continue to support security agencies with timely and actionable information,” the statement read.
The rescue underscores the military’s renewed push against banditry and kidnapping in Kogi and neighbouring states, where highways have been hotspots for abductions. The Army further pledged to sustain aggressive patrols and offensive operations until criminal networks are dismantled.
