The Troops of the 12 Composite Brigade under 5 Division, Nigerian Army, have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued 11 passengers along Kabba Ayere Road in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Monday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Composite Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lt. Hassan Abdullah

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Sunday when the troops deployed at the patrol base in Kabba, while on routine patrol, responded to credible information on the activities of terrorists attempting to abduct passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle along the route.

It further explained that on arrival, the troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into the surrounding bush.

It added that “consequently, 9 passengers, including the driver of the commercial vehicle, were rescued while the driver and the two other passengers who sustained injuries were evacuated for proper medical attention and the commercial vehicle was handed over to the appropriate authority.

The statement added that in a follow-up operation on Monday, 19 October 2026, troops exploited the general area of the incident and rescued two additional passengers who had fled into the bush during the encounter.

It further explained that the successful operation underscored the unwavering commitment of troops of the 12 Composite Brigade, Nigerian Army, to protecting lives and property, denying terrorists freedom of action and ensuring the safety of commuters across Kogi State.

The Brigade urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations

It stated that the Nigerian Army remained committed to sustaining efforts to safeguard lives and property and ensuring the security of the good people of Kogi State. (Nigerian Tribune)