Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade have successfully rescued six abducted persons from bandits operating within the Ejiba and Saminaka forests in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The operation was confirmed in a statement issued Tuesday in Lokoja by the Brigade’s spokesperson, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi.
According to Abdullahi, the rescue mission was part of intensified military operations aimed at tackling the growing threats of banditry and kidnapping in the state.
He said the coordinated operation involved both air and ground offensives, with support from a Nigeria Police helicopter.
He revealed that the sustained military pressure forced the bandits to abandon their captives.
“Five of the rescued victims have already been reunited with their families in Egbe and Ejiba, while the sixth is currently receiving medical care,” Abdullahi said.
The Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents across Kogi State, pledging to maintain aggressive patrols, clear forest hideouts, and limit the movement and operational capacity of criminal groups.
The rescue follows Sunday’s attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba community, where bandits abducted the pastor and several worshippers.