By: Sunday Ameh
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 23 passengers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The rescue operation followed a distress call received by security operatives in the early hours of Monday after gunmen reportedly barricaded the highway and abducted several travellers.
In a statement, the Army said the troops swiftly launched a counter-kidnapping operation and pursued the attackers along their suspected escape routes.
According to the statement, the kidnappers fled before the arrival of security personnel at the scene, prompting the troops to intensify efforts to track them down.
The Army disclosed that two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside were recovered during an assessment of the attack scene.
It added that two victims lost their lives during the incident, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, for medical treatment.
“The relentless pressure mounted by the pursuing troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 23 of their captives, who were subsequently rescued unharmed and secured,” the statement read.
The military further stated that troops have continued to dominate the area and are conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations to locate and safely recover any remaining victims still in captivity.
Earlier, the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, SP Saliu Oyiza, had disclosed that the abducted travellers comprised 26 men and four women.
The latest incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing commuters on some highways across the country, despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes.
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