In a significant security breakthrough, troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully rescued six individuals who were kidnapped during a brazen attack on a church in Kogi State. The operation highlights the ongoing military pressure against criminal elements in the region.
Coordinated Operation Leads to Victim Rescue
The rescue mission was carried out by troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Lokoja. According to a statement released on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, by the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, the operation was a coordinated search and rescue effort.
It focused on the Ejiba and Saminaka Forest axis, which spans the Yagba East and Yagba West Local Government Areas. The victims were originally abducted on Sunday when gunmen, suspected to be bandits, stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim church in the Ejiba community.
The pastor of the church and his wife were among those taken. The military stated that the rescue was made possible due to intensified air and ground offensives, which included support from a Nigeria Police helicopter.
Victims Reunited After Sustained Military Pressure
The statement revealed that the kidnappers released their captives because of the sustained pressure mounted by the troops during the joint operations. Troops deployed at Patrol Base Ejiba in Yagba West eventually intercepted the six victims.
All rescued persons were found in a stable condition. Following standard procedure, five of them underwent debriefing and have been reunited with their families in the Egbe and Ejiba communities of Yagba West Local Government Area.
The sixth victim is currently receiving medical attention due to their condition at the point of rescue. The Army reaffirmed that this success is part of its ongoing onslaught against banditry and kidnapping across Kogi State, aimed at eliminating criminal activities and enhancing regional security.
Major Drug Bust in Separate Security Sweep
In a related development underscoring the multifaceted security challenges, troops from the same 12 Brigade intercepted a large consignment of illicit drugs. The operation, which took place on 1 December 2025, was part of efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks linked to banditry and other crimes.
During patrols in the Agbede response area of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, troops flagged down a red Toyota Camry with registration number ABJ 325LA. The vehicle was allegedly transporting illegal substances from Ekiti State to Borno State.
The driver, identified as Mr. Hamisu Sule, attempted to flee upon sighting the military checkpoint but was pursued and apprehended along the Apata–Lokoja road in Lokoja Local Government Area.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 306 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 276 kilograms. Both the suspect and the seized narcotics have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kogi Command for further investigation and prosecution.
These twin operations demonstrate the Nigerian Army's active engagements in Kogi State, targeting both the violent crime of kidnapping and the narcotics trade that often fuels criminal enterprises and insecurity.
