June 1 (THEWILL) — Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have shattered a kidnapping operation along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, rescuing 23 abducted passengers in a swift counter-offensive that disrupted the attackers’ escape plan and forced the release of their captives.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, June 1, 2026, followed a distress call received at about 3:30 am, reporting that suspected armed bandits had blocked the highway and forcefully abducted passengers travelling along the route.
Acting on the alert, troops deployed from Kabba metropolis immediately launched a rapid response mission to the location in a bid to intercept the attackers and rescue the victims.
However, on arrival, the kidnappers had already fled the scene with their captives. Troops subsequently embarked on an aggressive pursuit of the fleeing suspects, tracking suspected withdrawal routes in a sustained manhunt operation aimed at disrupting their escape plan.
During the operation, security forces recovered two abandoned Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck believed to have been used during the attack and subsequent movement of victims.
Security sources confirmed that two of the abducted passengers were found dead, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were immediately evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, where they are currently receiving treatment.
In a significant breakthrough, sustained military pressure forced the kidnappers to abandon 23 of their captives, who were successfully rescued alive and unhurt. The victims were secured by troops and subjected to preliminary medical checks and debriefing.
Military authorities said follow-up operations have continued across the general area, with troops maintaining aggressive dominance of the environment to prevent regrouping and to track down fleeing members of the criminal gang.
Search-and-rescue operations are also ongoing to ensure that any remaining abducted persons are safely recovered, while efforts to apprehend the perpetrators have been intensified.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its resolve to sustain offensive operations against criminal networks, stressing that it will continue working with other security agencies and local stakeholders to deny bandits freedom of action across Kogi State and beyond.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and continue to support security operations by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing counter-kidnapping efforts.
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