15 NYSC Members, Six Others Rescued From Kidnappers After Gun Battle

Global Mirror News gathered that 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and six other abducted persons have been rescued from kidnappers operating in Egume Forest, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The victims were rescued following a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the Police, Military, Department of State Services (DSS), Local vigilantes and hunters familiar with the forest terrain.

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, disclosed the details of the operation on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

According to him, Security Agencies immediately mobilised after receiving information about the abduction and held an emergency meeting involving commanders of the various security formations in the State.

Kankarofi said the operation was subsequently intensified after security personnel were able to narrow down the location of the kidnappers.

He explained that the involvement of local vigilantes and hunters proved particularly important because of their knowledge of the difficult terrain where the victims were being held.

The Commissioner said the rescue operation eventually led security forces to the kidnappers’ camp at about 4:00 p.m. on Monday, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

He said the Security personnel overpowered the kidnappers and successfully rescued all the abducted corps members and other victims.

Kankarofi said, “As soon as we were alerted, we put all necessary measures in place to ensure they were rescued and returned to their families. An emergency meeting was convened by all the service Commanders: the Brigade Commander, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of DSS.”

He added that the security commanders designed a search-and-rescue strategy which commenced immediately.

“We fashioned out a search-and-rescue operation, which commenced immediately. As the situation unfolded, we narrowed down to a particular spot and sought the support of local vigilantes and hunters who know the terrain very well,” he said.

According to him, the operation began in earnest on Sunday before security forces reached the kidnappers’ camp the following afternoon.

“To God be the glory, around 4:00 p.m. yesterday, we arrived at the camp of the kidnappers. There was a serious gun battle; they were eventually overpowered, and all the corps members were rescued,” the Commissioner said.

However, two of the rescued victims sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation.

Kankarofi explained that one of the injured persons was a corps member, while the other was a civilian who had been abducted from another vehicle.

“Unfortunately, two people suffered gunshot injuries to their right legs: one corps member and one civilian who was abducted from the second vehicle,” he said.

How the abduction happened

The victims were reportedly travelling from Bayelsa State when they came under attack after entering Kogi State along the Itobe-Ajaokuta Highway.

The Commissioner said the incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m., when the vehicles were intercepted by the suspected kidnappers.

“When they entered Kogi along the Itobe–Ajaokuta Highway around 5:00 p.m., they were attacked and abducted into the bush alongside passengers from another vehicle coming from the opposite direction,” Kankarofi explained.

The victims were subsequently taken into the Egume Forest area, where they were held by the kidnappers until security forces located their hideout.

Four suspected kidnappers killed

During the gun battle, four suspected kidnappers were killed by the security forces, while several others reportedly escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.

Kankarofi said security personnel had continued their operations in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent them from escaping into neighbouring states.

“Four of the kidnappers were killed during the exchange of fire, and several escaped with bullet wounds. A search-and-rescue operation has been going on since yesterday to mop up the area and arrest the fleeing suspects,” he said.

He added that Military personnel, Police officers, DSS operatives, hunters and other security personnel remained in the operational area as the search for the fleeing suspects continued.

The Kogi Police Command has also contacted the Enugu State Police Command to help block possible escape routes into the neighbouring state.

“This morning, I also linked up with the neighbouring command in Enugu State because that area leads into Enugu, and arrangements have been made to ensure their forces block their end of the region,” the commissioner said.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, had earlier confirmed that the abducted persons were rescued through a coordinated operation involving various security agencies.

Police reassure travellers

Following the successful rescue, the Kogi Police Command urged residents and travellers not to panic over the incident, describing it as an isolated security challenge.

Kankarofi maintained that Kogi State remained largely peaceful and that security agencies were actively responding to threats across the state.

“These are just isolated cases,” he said.

“Kogi State has been generally peaceful and calm. The security forces here are very effective and respond promptly; that’s why when such situations happen, you get to know about them.”

The commissioner further encouraged motorists and other travellers to continue using roads across the state, assuring them that security personnel remained deployed to protect commuters.

“But generally, the state is calm. You can feel free to travel through Kogi State with nothing to worry about,” he said.

The rescue of the 15 NYSC members and six other victims has brought relief to their families and colleagues, while security forces continue efforts to apprehend the suspected kidnappers who escaped during the operation.

Global Mirror News gathered that the security agencies are also expected to sustain surveillance around the forest corridors and adjoining routes to prevent the fleeing suspects from regrouping or carrying out further attacks.