By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have rescued two kidnap victims, including a six-month-old baby, following a swift response to a kidnapping incident in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The rescue came after armed terrorists reportedly invaded a residence near Solid Rock School in the Ijalu area of Egbe on the night of June 3 and abducted five members of a family, including a woman, her infant child and three other persons.
The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying troops acted promptly after receiving a distress report about the attack.
According to him, soldiers immediately mobilised in conjunction with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and launched a pursuit operation along the kidnappers’ escape route.
He said the sustained pressure mounted by the security team forced the kidnappers to abandon Mrs. Adekemi Idowu and her six-month-old child near the Oro axis before fleeing into the surrounding area.
The rescued victims were safely returned to their residence, while troops continued aggressive search operations aimed at locating and rescuing the remaining three abducted family members.
Abdullahi noted that efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice, adding that security forces remained determined to deny criminal elements freedom of operation within the area.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the protection of lives and property and called on members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
According to him, community cooperation remains critical to the success of ongoing operations against terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements threatening peace and security in the state.
