Army-Led Operation Rescues 16 Kidnap Victims in Kogi
Joint security team forces abductors to flee after gun battle in Ofu, victims rescued from forest
A joint security operation led by the Nigerian Army has rescued all 16 people abducted by suspected kidnappers in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The victims were seized on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, after armed criminals attacked commuters along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads.
Acting on intelligence that the captives had been taken toward Adumu community in Dekina Local Government Area, troops of 21 Battalion joined personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and hunters in a search-and-rescue mission. The operation led to a confrontation with the fleeing kidnappers, triggering a gun battle.
The Army said the security team’s superior firepower forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and escape into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds. Those rescued comprised six adult men, six adult women and four children. The victims were undergoing documentation and medical checks before being reunited with their families.
A local hunter who participated in the operation was killed during the encounter, while a police officer sustained injuries and was receiving treatment. The Army commended the participating security personnel and local stakeholders, while urging residents to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible information on suspicious activities.
