Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 23 persons abducted by suspected bandits along the Ayegunle–Igun Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, following a swift counter-kidnapping operation.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Monday, the Army said the rescue was carried out by soldiers of the 12 Brigade after a distress alert was received in the early hours of the day.
According to the statement, troops were mobilised immediately at about 3:30 a.m. and moved from Kabba metropolis to the scene of the attack.
Although the attackers had fled before the arrival of security forces, the soldiers launched a pursuit along suspected escape routes in an effort to intercept the kidnappers and recover the victims.
During a search of the area, troops reportedly recovered two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside, believed to have been used or targeted in the operation.
The Army confirmed that two of the abducted victims were killed during the attack, while five others who sustained injuries were evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
It added that sustained pressure from the pursuing troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 23 of their captives, who were later rescued without further harm.
The military urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, noting that ongoing operations are aimed at denying criminal groups freedom of action.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to working with other security agencies and local stakeholders to improve security across Kogi State and other parts of the country.
