Security Forces Rescue 21 on Kogi Road

A fierce gun battle in Kogi State resulted in the rescue of twenty-one passengers who were abducted after heavily armed bandits ambushed multiple vehicles on a major highway on Thursday. Tragically, the rescue mission also confirmed the deaths of two dedicated security personnel.

Security sources indicated that approximately 100 armed bandits suddenly opened fire on a convoy of vehicles around 2:00 p.m. The attacked vehicles included three passenger buses, a Toyota Carina, a Dangote truck carrying 900 bags of cement, and a J5 bus loaded with bags of pepper.

The targeted vehicles were traveling various routes, linking major cities such as Oshogbo, Kaduna, Owo, Abuja, Lokoja, Kabba, and Lagos, highlighting the ambush’s significant impact on inter-state travel.

A robust joint security team was swiftly mobilized to the scene. The team comprised personnel from the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, Quick Response Units, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilantes, local hunters, and other specialized operatives.

The joint team immediately engaged the bandits in what field reports described as an intense gun duel. The objective was to overwhelm the criminals and secure the victims.

According to a field report quoted by security analyst Zagazola Makama, the successful operation secured the release of twenty-one passengers. Those rescued included a mix of men, women, and infants, with their identities confirmed in the operational manifest.

Those brought to safety included Moses Oladimeji, Adele Jacob, and several families, notably including a nine-day-old infant named Deborah Enenche, who was rescued alongside her parents. The drivers of the Dangote truck and the J5 bus were also among the rescued.

However, the victory came at a high cost, with two members of the joint team losing their lives while exchanging fire with the attackers.

The report confirmed that “one soldier attached to the Oshokoshoko sector and one vigilante from Odoape” died during the confrontation, though their names are being withheld pending full family notification.

Search-and-rescue efforts are currently ongoing in the surrounding forest areas. Security forces are continuing to trace any remaining abducted passengers and are actively pursuing the gunmen who fled the scene of the massive ambush.