Kogi Government Praises Rescue of 21 Kidnap Victims

The Kogi state government has commended the successful rescue of 21 kidnap victims in the Dekina local government area, describing the operation as a demonstration of tactical efficiency and effective inter-agency collaboration. The statement was issued by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, on Tuesday in Lokoja.

The rescue operation, which took place on Monday, involved troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), local hunters, and vigilante groups. This coordinated effort was initiated following reports of abductions along the Alloma–Ejule–Itobe road.

Acting on credible intelligence, security operatives executed operations in the Egume and Ochaja forest areas, successfully recovering the victims, which included eight males and 13 females. One victim sustained a gunshot injury and was promptly taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting security agencies in their crime-fighting efforts and reaffirmed the state's commitment to combating criminality.