Police Rescue 15 Kogi Kidnap Victims After Gun Battle

Fifteen people abducted along the Itobe-Anyigba highway in Kogi State have been rescued after a gun battle between security operatives and the kidnappers.

The update moves the Kogi bus-kidnap story beyond the earlier rescue of four victims reported by NaijaTrend here. The new account says the rescued group included 12 adults and three children, among them two Federal Road Safety Corps personnel.

Vanguard reported that the victims were abducted after a Peace Mass Transit bus was intercepted around 4pm on Sunday, August 9, between Ojuwo Ajengo and Mamerebo along the Itobe-Achigili axis in Ofu Local Government Area.

Daily Trust’s earlier report on the same route said suspected kidnappers attacked passengers in three buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway. It placed the attacks on Sunday and said an unspecified number of passengers were taken into nearby bush paths.

Kogi police said the rescue operation involved police tactical teams, soldiers, DSS personnel, NSCDC officers, local vigilantes and other security operatives. Vanguard reported that a vigilante member was killed during the operation and a police officer was injured.

The command said operations were continuing in the area to find the fleeing attackers and disrupt other kidnapping gangs operating around the highway.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Trust