Army rescues mother, infant as troops intensify hunt for kidnappers in Kogi

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) —Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, have rescued two kidnap victims following a swift response to an abduction incident in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The victims, identified as Mrs Adekemi Idowu and her six-month-old child, were rescued after suspected terrorists abducted five members of a family during an attack on a residence near Solid Rock School in Ijalu, Egbe, on the night of June 3, 2026.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, troops immediately mobilised alongside members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) after receiving a distress report and launched a pursuit operation along the kidnappers’ escape route.

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The Army said sustained pressure from the security team forced the kidnappers to abandon the mother and child near the Oro axis before fleeing into the surrounding area.

The rescued victims were safely reunited with their families, while troops have continued intensive search operations to rescue the remaining abductees and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging members of the public to provide timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.