The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a soldier and a vigilante operative during a rescue operation that freed 21 kidnapped passengers along the Kabba–Obajana Road in Kogi State.
The spokesperson for the 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the development on Saturday in Lokoja, noting that security agencies were continuing search operations to track remaining abductees and apprehend the attackers.
“Yes, it’s true. The incident happened on Thursday, and the troops are still combing the forest to apprehend the perpetrators,” Abdullahi said.
Sources earlier reported that about 100 armed bandits ambushed a convoy of six vehicles travelling between southern and northern Nigeria around 2:00 p.m. The vehicles attacked included:
- A Toyota Sienna (YAB 968 AX) travelling from Osogbo to Kaduna
- A Toyota Hiace (7BGT-78LG) from Owo to Abuja
- A Toyota Hiace (GKP 178 XA) from Abuja to Ekiti
- A Toyota Carina (JMU 648 AA) from Lokoja to Kabba
- A Dangote truck transporting 900 bags of cement
- A J5 bus (FTA 313 XV) conveying pepper from Kano to Lagos
According to the source, a joint operation involving the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Quick Response Units (QRU), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilantes, and hunters engaged the bandits in a gun battle, successfully rescuing 21 passengers, including men, women, and infants.
The rescued individuals include Moses Oladimeji, Adele Jacob, Obed Onche, Babayemi & Funmilayo Ajayi, Samuel Olawoyin, Samuel Job, Jemima & Nanko Joseph, and Enenche Paulina.
Also rescued were Bright, Rachael & Deborah Enenche (a 9-day-old baby), Bukola & Toyin Clement, Glory & Faith Clement, Peter Olawale, as well as the drivers of the Dangote truck and J5 bus.
However, the source confirmed that the clash resulted in the tragic deaths of a soldier from the Oshokoshoko sector and a vigilante operative from Odoape.
In a related development, troops of the 12 Brigade had earlier, on Tuesday, foiled an attempted ambush by bandits along the same Kabba–Obajana Road, killing one of the attackers and rescuing a kidnapped victim.
Security agencies have urged communities within the corridor to remain vigilant as bandit activities continue to rise across parts of Kogi State.
