Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued 23 passengers abducted by suspected bandits along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba‑Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, in a swift counter‑kidnapping operation that also recovered two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the attackers. The rescue, announced in an official Army statement on Monday, 1 June 2026, followed a distress call received at about 3:30 a.m. reporting that armed men had barricaded the highway and forced an unspecified number of travellers from their vehicles.
Acting on the alert, troops deployed within Kabba metropolis immediately moved to the scene. Although the kidnappers had fled before the arrival of security forces, soldiers launched an aggressive pursuit along the suspects’ suspected withdrawal routes, conducting a sustained manhunt aimed at disrupting their escape plan. During an assessment of the attack scene, troops recovered two dead bodies and five injured victims, who were promptly evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, where they are currently receiving 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 Nigerian Army confirmed that two victims lost their lives during the incident, while five others sustained injuries. 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 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 to continue supporting ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information to relevant authorities.
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