Kogi Rescues 21 Kidnap Victims in Coordinated Security Operation

Twenty-one kidnapped victims, including eight men and 13 women, have been rescued in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State following a coordinated operation by joint security forces.

The victims were freed on Monday, August 31, 2026, after troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, teamed up with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, local hunters and vigilante groups to track them down.

The rescue followed reports that road users travelling along the Alloma–Ejule–Itobe road had been abducted.

Acting on credible intelligence, security operatives combed the Egume and Ochaja forest areas until all 21 captives were located and freed.

One of the male victims was shot during the operation and has since been evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

Governor Usman Ododo commended the security agencies involved, describing the rescue as a reflection of courage and organisational discipline. He did not mince words in warning those behind such crimes.

"Criminals will always regret setting foot in Kogi State. We will never wag our tails before cowards who take arms against the state. Kogi is always ready to obliterate any threat to lives and property in the state," he said.

The governor also thanked President Bola Tinubu for strengthening the nation's security architecture.

He extended his appreciation to the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, and other operatives involved in the rescue.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the operation was a clear demonstration of tactical excellence and inter-agency collaboration, and reflected the Federal Government's resolve to make crime an unprofitable venture for those who engage in it.

Ododo assured residents that his administration would keep deepening ties with security agencies and community-based structures to safeguard lives and property across the state.

He urged Kogi residents to stay alert and continue sharing timely, credible information with security agencies, noting that public cooperation remains central to defeating kidnapping and other crimes in the state.