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By Kabir Abdulsalam
Troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have rescued 23 abducted passengers following a swift counter-kidnapping operation along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The rescue operation was launched in the early hours of Monday, June 1, 2026, after suspected kidnappers barricaded the highway and abducted several passengers travelling through the area.
Military authorities disclosed that troops acting on a distress call received at about 3:30 a.m. swiftly deployed from within the Kabba metropolis to the scene in a bid to rescue the victims and track down the fleeing criminals.
Although the kidnappers had fled before the arrival of security personnel, troops immediately initiated an aggressive pursuit along the suspected withdrawal routes of the criminal elements.
During an assessment of the attack scene, troops recovered two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside, indicating the scale of the attack on travellers along the route.
The military, however, confirmed that the incident recorded casualties, with two victims losing their lives, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were promptly evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, where they are currently receiving treatment.
According to the Army, sustained pressure mounted by the pursuing troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 23 abducted passengers, who were subsequently rescued unharmed and secured.
Troops have since continued to dominate the general area, with intensive search-and-rescue operations ongoing to locate and safely recover any remaining victims who may still be in captivity.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to denying criminal elements freedom of action and pledged continued collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to strengthen security across Kogi State and the country.
The military also urged members of the public to support ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information to relevant security agencies.
