The Kogi State Police Command has rescued 11 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers who were abducted along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, Saliu Afusat, confirmed the development in a statement issued in response to a press inquiry, saying the victims were freed during a coordinated search operation following an attack on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on August 26 at about 4:40 p.m. around the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, where armed men reportedly emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.
While some passengers managed to escape into the surrounding forest, others were taken hostage by the attackers.
“Upon receipt of the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, Ofu, led a joint security team to the scene, where two abandoned vehicles, a Peace Mass Transit white Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus, were recovered,” the statement said.
Security personnel subsequently began a coordinated search of the surrounding bush in an effort to locate the abducted passengers.
The operation resulted in the rescue of 11 people, including the drivers of both buses.
“Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” the police said.
The rescued victims were taken through the necessary procedures and debriefed before being permitted to continue their journey.
However, the command said the operation had not ended, as some victims were still being held by the kidnappers.
“The joint security operation remains ongoing in the surrounding forest with the primary objectives of rescuing the remaining victims, apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice,” the command said.
The latest development follows earlier reports that about 15 NYSC members were abducted while travelling to Abuja after completing their orientation programme in Bayelsa State.
A relative of one of the victims had told the Foundation for Investigative Journalism that the corps members were travelling in two buses when the attackers struck along the Ofu/Itobe-Onicha-Igo axis.
READ ALSO:
- 11 NYSC Members, Others Regain Freedom After Kogi Abduction
- Badejo-Okusanya Begins Tenure As 33rd NBA President
- Fidelity Bank to Unlock Growth Opportunities for Northern Businesses with Quarterly Business Forum in Kano
- FULL FIXTURES: Arsenal To Host Madrid As Man City Draw PSG In UCL
- Atiku Questions Tinubu’s N600bn Cash Transfer, Demands Details Of Beneficiaries
The relative identified one of the abducted corps members as Ayodele David and said the driver of the Peace Mass Transit vehicle remained at the scene after sustaining injuries during the attack.
The police account has now provided further details on the location of the incident, placing it around the Ogene Zaria area of Ofu LGA along the Aloma-Egane Expressway.
The incident is the latest kidnapping attack reported along Kogi roads this month, with several security operations conducted in the state in recent weeks.
On August 9, security agencies reported that commuters were abducted along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe roads in Ofu LGA. Troops later rescued 16 victims after engaging the kidnappers in a gun battle near Adumu in Dekina LGA.
A local hunter was killed during that operation, while a police officer sustained injuries.
The recurring attacks have raised concerns over the use of Kogi’s forests and major highways as routes for kidnapping activities.
The police said security personnel remain deployed in the area and are continuing efforts to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.