Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), acting through its Anti‑Kidnapping Squad, has rescued 13 people who were abducted while travelling from Calabar, Cross River State, to Abuja for a programme. The victims, who had been held captive since April 26, 2026, were freed in the Egume area of Anyigba, Kogi State, at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, by the Commander of the VGN Anti‑Kidnapping Squad, Idris Girinya, the operation was led by Suleiman Abiodun of Kubwa, Abuja, widely known as “Evil Spirit.” The squad received full support from the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Kogi State Command, and the Nigeria Police Force.
The rescued victims have been identified as Pastor Victor Edet Okon, Mercy Victor Okon, Bassey Bassey Ekpenyong, Sarah Bassey Ekpenyong, Evangelist Perfect Bomba, Christian George, Mary God’s Will Asuquo, Mary Bassey Kanu, Rita Effiom, Maria Undie, Mary Joseph, Iboro Johnson, and Prosper Ebuara. The statement did not disclose whether any arrests were made during the operation or if any ransom was paid before the victims regained their freedom. The rescue operation demonstrates the growing effectiveness of community‑led security initiatives, particularly the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, which has increasingly filled critical gaps in local policing across many states.
The rescue comes amid mounting public anxiety over the worsening security situation on major highways, where kidnapping for ransom has become a frequent and terrifying risk for travellers. Kogi State, which serves as a major transit hub connecting the northern and southern parts of the country, has seen several high‑profile abductions in recent months, including the kidnapping of children from an orphanage in Lokoja in early May 2026. The rescue of the 13 victims, after 13 days in captivity, offers a rare moment of relief. However, the incident also underscores the persistent danger that commuters face on Nigerian roads, even while travelling in groups.
The Vigilante Group of Nigeria has been operating since 1999, primarily as a volunteer security organisation mandated to complement the work of formal security agencies. The Anti‑Kidnapping Squad of the VGN Federal Capital Territory Command, which carried out this operation, has gained a reputation for responding to abduction cases that might otherwise go unaddressed due to resource constraints within the police. The involvement of Suleiman Abiodun, also known as “Evil Spirit,” a name he has reportedly adopted to intimidate criminal elements, highlights the unconventional yet effective methods often employed by vigilante groups in Nigeria’s rural and semi‑urban areas.
The success of the rescue operation is also a testament to the collaboration between the vigilante groups and the Nigerian Police Force. By combining local intelligence with formal law enforcement support, the joint team was able to track the victims to their location in Egume and secure their freedom without any reported casualties. While the police have not issued a separate statement on the rescue, their presence at the scene suggests a growing willingness to cooperate with community security outfits, a relationship that has sometimes been strained in the past due to jurisdictional conflicts or mistrust.
The 13 victims have since been reunited with their families and are receiving medical and psychological support. Pastor Victor Edet Okon, one of the rescued victims, told local reporters that the group had lost hope of ever seeing their families again. “We prayed every day and night. When we heard the voices of the vigilantes, we knew God had answered us,” he said. Another victim, Mary Bassey Kanu, a mother of three, described her experience as the darkest period of her life, adding that she had been starved and threatened daily by her captors.
Despite the joy of the rescue, the incident has once again raised serious questions about the effectiveness of conventional security along Nigeria’s major highways. The Ajaokuta‑Anyigba road, where the victims were abducted, has become notorious for kidnapping, with travellers often forced to hire armed escorts or avoid night travel altogether. The Kogi State Government has previously announced measures to boost security, including the deployment of additional police patrols and the installation of surveillance cameras, but such measures have yet to produce a lasting impact.
The rescue also shines a light on the broader challenge of kidnapping across Nigeria. According to the Global Terrorism Index and the Nigeria Security Tracker, non‑state actors abducted over 3,600 people nationwide in 2025, with many cases occurring on major highways. The federal government has repeatedly stated that it is working to dismantle kidnapping networks, but the frequency of such crimes suggests that more must be done.
As the 13 rescued victims begin the slow process of recovering from their ordeal, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria has urged the government to provide more resources for community‑based security outfits. “We are doing what we can with limited resources. Imagine what we could achieve if we had better equipment and training,” Commander Idris Girinya said in his statement. For the families of the 13 rescued individuals, the question of what could be achieved is no longer abstract: it is the difference between a grave and a homecoming.
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