The Nigerian Army on Thursday said troops of the 12 Brigade, in conjunction with hybrid forces and local vigilante, have successfully rescued 17 kidnapped victims, including 13 adults and four children.
Etimes recalls that 17 passengers travelling in a 17-seater bus from Osun State to Abuja were kidnapped in Kogi State.
Following this, the combined team of security forces swung into action, combed the forest and rescued the victims unhurt, including four others already in the kidnappers’ den.
Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in a statement said the incident occurred on September 10, 2025, when troops deployed at Patrol Base Apata received credible intelligence of a kidnap incident at Opamaru village, along Obajana–Lokoja Road.
Immediately, the patrol base reinforced as the soldiers swiftly trailed the kidnappers’ footprints to Wuro village in Adavi Local Government Area, where the troops came in contact with the criminals.
After they were overpowered by the troops’ superior firepower, the criminals abandoned all 17 kidnapped passengers and fled into the bush with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
The freed hostages were evacuated to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for first aid and stabilization.
The Nigerian Army reassured the general public of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, while urging citizens to continue to support the military with timely information to aid ongoing operations.
