Army rescues five kidnap victims in Kogi forest operation

By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja

Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army under the 2 Division, have rescued five kidnapped victims abandoned by fleeing bandits during sustained counter-terrorism operations in forested areas of Kogi State.

The Commanding Officer of 126 Battalion, Lt. Col. Francis Nwoffiah, disclosed this on Wednesday at the 12 Brigade Headquarters in Lokoja.

He said the rescue took place on Tuesday, June 17, when troops from the Forward Operating Base, Oshokoshoko, mounted a blocking operation along the Oshokoshoko–Adankolo route within the Adankolo Forest.

According to him, the ground operation followed air interdiction missions carried out by helicopter assets provided by the Office of the National Security Adviser, which targeted several bandit camps in Agbede Forest, including the Danguntu camp in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.

He said the sustained pressure from the military forced the bandits to abandon some of their captives.

“Unable to move with all their captives, they abandoned some of them, which allowed the captives to take advantage and move away,” he said.

Nwoffiah also said some notorious bandit leaders, including Battijo and his lieutenant Issa, had been neutralised in earlier operations, while another suspect, Maidawa, was killed in the Isanlu-Esa area.

He said the military had significantly degraded criminal networks operating in the state, adding that operations would continue until all bandit camps were dismantled.

“There is a new team in place, and the Army message to bandits is simple: quit or face your Waterloo,” he warned.

The rescued victims include John Luna, Farouq Abdullahi, and Eunice Fedrick, among others. They are currently receiving medical attention at the 12 Brigade Medical Centre in Lokoja.

The victims said they were abducted on June 1 at about 2:30 a.m. while travelling on a night bus from Abuja to Lagos.

They said about 28 passengers were held in the forest for 17 days and forced to herd cattle until military airstrikes forced the bandits to flee.

“The security agency came where we were. The bandits dropped us and left because of pressure from the troops,” Luna said, while Fedrick added, “To the glory of God, we survived.”

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government described the rescue as a major breakthrough in ongoing operations against criminal groups.

In a statement, Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo said the success followed coordinated air and ground operations across several locations, including Iluke Bunu, which had led to multiple rescues and destruction of bandit camps.

He commended the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, DSS, NSCDC, vigilantes, and hunters for their efforts, and appreciated President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and security chiefs for their support.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Austin Ojotule, who represented the Commissioner for Health, said the victims had been assessed and placed under full medical care.

He added that the state government would cover all medical expenses until the victims fully recover and are reunited with their families.

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