Kogi applauds security forces after rescue of five abductees

The Kogi State Government has welcomed the rescue of five kidnap victims by troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, describing the development as another breakthrough in the ongoing offensive against terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements operating in parts of the state.

The victims were rescued during sustained military operations in forests across Kogi State as security forces intensified coordinated air and ground offensives against criminal hideouts. The government said the rescue was a direct result of mounting pressure on terrorist camps, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives while fleeing military assaults.

According to the government, the latest operation builds on recent successes recorded in the Bunu District of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, where security forces neutralised terrorists, rescued kidnapped victims, and destroyed criminal camps. It added that ongoing operations have continued to yield positive results across affected communities.

Preliminary accounts from the rescued victims indicated that their abductors abandoned them and fled due to overwhelming military pressure. The government said the testimonies highlights the effectiveness of the coordinated air and ground offensives being carried out against criminal elements in the state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, commended the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilante groups, and hunters for their professionalism and commitment in the fight against insecurity.

The government also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, service chiefs, and heads of security and intelligence agencies for their support in efforts to restore peace and security in Kogi and across the country.

It noted that some of the rescued victims were abducted from states outside Kogi, highlighting the state’s strategic role in Nigeria’s security architecture. The government said the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to support security agencies with logistics, intelligence, and other resources to prevent the state from serving as a safe haven for criminals.

The government said recent measures introduced by the governor, including restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations in vulnerable areas, closure of routes used by criminals, and tighter regulation of fuel sales, have disrupted terrorist logistics networks. It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the current momentum against kidnappers and other criminal elements while urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.