Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued nine kidnapped commuters following a swift response to an ambush along the Ajaokuta–Itobe Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, the Army said in a statement.
According to the statement, the rescue was carried out by troops deployed at Patrol Base Itobe “after receiving reports that suspected kidnappers had ambushed commuters and abducted several passengers along the route.”
On arriving at the scene, troops found two abandoned vehicles — a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna — with no passengers in sight. “All passengers [were] missing,” the statement noted.
“Acting without delay, the troops launched a pursuit operation, exploiting the withdrawal route of the fleeing criminals,” the Army said, adding that the chase led soldiers to the outskirts of Adumu Community in Dekina Local Government Area, where they engaged the kidnappers in a firefight.
“The troops overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower, compelling them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds,” the statement read.
Nine victims were rescued in the operation — two elderly men, two elderly women, four adult males, and one infant. They were evacuated to safety and handed over to the Nigeria Police, Itobe Area Command, “for further necessary action and reunification with their families.”
The Army said the pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers is ongoing, with “coordinated search operations continuing to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.”
In the statement, the Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to public safety: “The Nigerian Army reassures members of the public of its unwavering commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to protecting lives and property across the country.”
The Army also urged residents to continue supporting security operations “by providing timely and credible information that will facilitate the prompt response to criminal activities.”
