In a major operation against banditry, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, working with Hybrid Forces and local vigilantes, have rescued 17 kidnapped victims in Kogi State.
The group included 13 adults and 4 children.
The incident happened on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, when troops at Patrol Base Apata received information about a kidnapping at Opamaru Village along the Obajana–Lokoja Road.
The victims, who were travelling in a 17-seater bus from Osun State to Abuja, were ambushed by the kidnappers before the army intervened.
When the soldiers arrived, they found the bus abandoned by the roadside. They then tracked the kidnappers’ footprints to Wuro Village in Adavi Local Government Area.
A gun battle ensued, forcing the criminals to release the captives and flee into the forest with injuries.
The victims were taken to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for first aid and stabilization.
The Nigerian Army assured the public of its commitment to protecting lives and property, and called on citizens to continue providing useful information to aid security operations.
