Eight kidnapped persons have been rescued in Kogi State following a fierce gun battle between security forces and their captors in Obajana, Lokoja Local Government Area.
Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, disclosed in a post on X on Friday that the rescue took place in the early hours of Thursday. According to Hobnob News, Nigerian Army troops, working alongside police officers and local vigilantes, launched the operation around 3:30 a.m. after receiving intelligence that the kidnappers were moving their victims through Obajana towards Ankome Forest.
The joint team reportedly laid an ambush and engaged the armed kidnappers in an intense exchange of gunfire, forcing them to flee—some with gunshot wounds—which led to the captives being abandoned.
The rescued victims, all unharmed, were identified as Adamu Saje, Abdulmumini Yunusa, Abdul Abubakar, and Halima Abdullahi from Usugwe community in Okehi LGA, who had been abducted earlier in August. Others include Abubakar Tukur and Hafsatu Abubakar from a Fulani camp in the Apata area.
Makama noted that the families of the victims have been informed, and security forces are continuing efforts to track down the fleeing suspects.
The incident is the latest in a series of coordinated security responses aimed at curbing kidnapping and other violent crimes in Kogi State.
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