Troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have rescued 17 people who were kidnapped in Kogi State.

Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Brigade, confirmed the rescue in a statement on Thursday, September 10, 2025.

The victims, traveling in a 17-seater bus from Osun State to Abuja, were stopped by armed attackers, but the army quickly stepped in to save them.

The statement added that the 12 Brigade, working alongside Hybrid Forces and local vigilantes, successfully freed 17 kidnapped people, including 13 adults and 4 children.

“The incident happened on September 10, 2025, when our troops at Patrol Base Apata got reliable information about a kidnapping in Opamaru Village on the Obajana–Lokoja Road,” the statement said.

The army revealed that the bus was found empty on the roadside. Using tracking skills, the troops followed the kidnappers’ trail to Wuro Village in Adavi Local Government Area, where they engaged the criminals.

Thanks to the army’s superior firepower, the kidnappers fled, leaving all 17 victims behind. Some of the attackers were injured by gunfire. The rescued people were quickly taken to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for first aid.

The Nigerian Army assured the public that it remains dedicated to protecting lives and property, and encouraged citizens to provide timely information to help security operations.