Kogi State Welcomes Rescue of Five Kidnap Victims as Nigerian Army Intensifies Offensive Against Terrorists

The Kogi State Government has applauded the successful rescue of five kidnapped victims by troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, describing the operation as another significant milestone in the ongoing crackdown on terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements operating within parts of the state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government said the victims were rescued during sustained military operations in Kogi forests as security agencies intensified coordinated air and ground offensives against criminal hideouts.

According to the statement, the latest rescue followed relentless pressure mounted on terrorist camps across the state, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives while fleeing advancing security forces.

The government noted that the operation builds on recent successes recorded in the Bunu District of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, where coordinated security operations led to the neutralisation of terrorists, the rescue of kidnapped victims and the destruction of criminal camps.

It added that security agencies have sustained the momentum through continuous air and ground missions around Iluke Bunu and neighbouring communities, resulting in the rescue of additional victims and the elimination of more criminal elements hiding in the forests.

Preliminary accounts from the rescued victims indicated that their abductors abandoned them and fled due to the overwhelming military pressure generated by the coordinated offensive.

According to the government, the victims disclosed that the sustained attacks created panic within the criminal camps, forcing the kidnappers to disperse and leave their captives behind in a desperate bid to evade the advancing troops.

The Kogi State Government commended the troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force, personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilante groups and hunters for what it described as their professionalism, courage and commitment in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

The administration also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for national security efforts, while acknowledging the contributions of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services and the Commandant General of the NSCDC.

The government observed that some of the rescued victims were abducted from states outside Kogi, saying the development underscores the state’s strategic importance as a gateway connecting northern and southern Nigeria and highlights its critical role in preventing the expansion of terrorist networks across state boundaries.

It stated that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration has continued to support security agencies with logistics, intelligence and other resources to ensure that Kogi does not serve as a transit route or safe haven for criminal groups.

The statement further revealed that recent measures introduced by the governor, including restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations in the Bunu hinterlands, the closure of routes allegedly used by criminals, regulation of fuel sales in vulnerable areas and the reorganisation of the state’s security architecture, have disrupted the logistics and mobility of terrorist groups.

According to the government, these initiatives, combined with intensified military operations, have cut off critical supply lines and created a hostile environment for criminal elements seeking refuge in Kogi forests.

It also described the rescue operation as evidence that investments in intelligence gathering, security infrastructure, logistics support, community-based security initiatives and inter-agency collaboration are producing tangible results.

Governor Ododo congratulated the rescued victims and their families, praying for their speedy recovery from the trauma of captivity and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to working with security agencies until all criminal enclaves in the state are dismantled.

He also directed the Kogi State Ministry of Health to provide comprehensive medical screening and treatment for the rescued victims to aid their physical and psychological recovery.

Speaking while receiving the victims on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Austin Ojotule assured that the ministry would oversee their medical evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation, including psychosocial support, until they are medically fit and emotionally stable to reunite with their families.

The state government pledged to continue collaborating with security agencies and the victims’ families throughout the recovery process while urging residents to support security operations by providing timely and credible information.

It reiterated its commitment to sustaining the offensive against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements, expressing confidence that continued collaboration between the Federal Government, security agencies and citizens would ensure lasting peace and security across Kogi State.