Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division Nigerian Army, have successfully rescued two kidnap victims following a swift response to a kidnapping incident in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Rescue operation details
The rescue operation was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi. According to the statement, the incident occurred late on June 3, 2026, when armed terrorists stormed a residence near Solid Rock School in the Ijalu area of Egbe and abducted five members of a family, including a woman, her six-month-old infant, and three other relatives.
The Army said troops immediately mobilised after receiving a distress report and, in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), launched a pursuit operation along the route taken by the abductors.
Victims recovered unharmed
The statement noted that the sustained pressure mounted by the troops and vigilante operatives forced the terrorists to abandon one of the victims, Mrs. Adekemi Idowu, and her six-month-old child near the Oro axis before fleeing into the surrounding area. The rescued mother and child were subsequently recovered unharmed and safely reunited with their family.
Lieutenant Abdullahi stated that troops have continued aggressive search and rescue operations in the area to secure the release of the remaining three victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, while urging members of the public to provide timely and credible information that could assist ongoing security operations.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to protecting lives and property and encourages residents to continue supporting security agencies with actionable intelligence to enhance efforts against criminal elements,” the statement said.
Security operations are ongoing in the area as efforts intensify to locate the remaining abducted victims and apprehend the fleeing terrorists.
