Joint security forces comprising the Police, Military, Department of State Services (DSS) and other auxiliary personnel have rescued 10 corps members from a forest in Egume, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Kogi State Police Command said the victims were rescued during a coordinated, sustained and intelligence-driven operation aimed at securing the safe recovery of kidnapped victims and dismantling criminal elements operating in the area.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command, ASP Salihu Oyiza Afusat, said the operation was still ongoing as security forces intensified efforts to locate and safely rescue the remaining victims.
“The security forces have intensified operations within the area and are making concerted efforts to locate and safely recover the remaining victims, while simultaneously pursuing the perpetrators responsible for the attack,” the statement said.
The Command said the ongoing operation had raised hopes that the remaining kidnapped victims would also be rescued.
According to the police, the joint operation forms part of concerted efforts by security agencies to recover all the victims, dismantle criminal networks operating in the area and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State commended the “gallantry, professionalism and resilience” of personnel of the Police, Military, DSS and other supporting security and auxiliary forces involved in the rescue operation.
He also appreciated members of the public, particularly residents of affected communities, for their cooperation and support, noting that timely and credible information from residents remained critical to the success of the operation.
The Command urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or information that could assist security agencies in locating the remaining victims.
“The Kogi State Police Command assures the people of the state that all available operational resources will be deployed to ensure the safe recovery of all the remaining victims and the apprehension of the perpetrators,” the statement added.
