Joint security forces have rescued 21 persons abducted along the Alloma–Ejule–Itobe road in Kogi State following a coordinated operation in the Egume and Ochaja forests in Dekina Local Government Area.
The operation was carried out by troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, local hunters and vigilante groups.
The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, said the operation followed credible intelligence on the mass abduction of road users in the area.
He said troops mobilised from the Headquarters of the 21 Battalion and other security personnel conducted a coordinated search of the adjoining forests.
According to him, the team located and rescued all 21 victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, from hideouts in the Egume and Ochaja forest areas.
One of the victims sustained a gunshot wound during the rescue and was immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
The army said the remaining victims were in military custody pending formal handover to the appropriate authorities.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, commended the troops and other partners for their courage and cooperation in securing the victims.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
