Lokoja – The Nigerian Army has successfully rescued 21 passengers abducted along the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the 12 Brigade, Lt Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the rescue on Saturday.
The attack, reportedly carried out by suspected bandits, targeted travellers on the Osokoko–Obajana highway. Eyewitnesses said a commercial 18-seater bus and several other vehicles were intercepted at about 2.30 pm, with passengers forcefully taken into the bush.
Lt Abdullahi said troops of the brigade, in collaboration with vigilantes, hunters, and other security operatives, engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gunfire exchange, leading to the rescue of 21 victims. Operations are ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees and apprehend the attackers.
A relative of one of the kidnapped passengers, who requested anonymity, said his younger brother was travelling from Owo in Ondo State to Abuja when the vehicle was ambushed. He revealed that the abductors later demanded a ransom of N40 million.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that several vehicles were affected, including a Toyota Hiace bus (7BGT-78LG) from Owo to Abuja, a Toyota Siena (YAB 968 AX) from Oshogbo to Kaduna, a Toyota Carina (JMU 648 AA) from Lokoja to Kabba, and a Toyota Hiace (GKP 178 XA) from Abuja to Ekiti State.
According to sources, eight rescued passengers belonged to two biological families, while two drivers were also freed.
Meanwhile, Kogi State Governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo, has vowed to confront criminal hideouts directly rather than wait for attacks. At an emergency meeting with security agencies and traditional rulers in Lokoja, the governor said intelligence reports indicated that top bandit leaders had relocated to the state in recent days.
“The major commanders of the bandits have relocated to Kogi State for the past three days. We will not wait for them to fight us; we will take the fight to them.”
“We are not going to bow to criminals, we are not going to negotiate or pay ransom, but we will sensitise our people to remain security conscious,” Governor Ododo said.
