Eight people who were kidnapped have been rescued in Kogi State after a gun battle between security forces and their captors.
Security analyst, Zagazola Makama disclosed in a post on X on Friday that the rescue happened in Obajana, Lokoja Local Government Area, in the early hours of Thursday.
He said Nigerian Army troops, working with police officers and local vigilantes, launched the operation around 3:30 a.m. after receiving intelligence that the kidnappers were moving their victims through Obajana towards Ankome Forest.
The joint team reportedly laid an ambush and engaged the armed kidnappers in a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing them to flee. Some with gunshot wounds which forced them to abandon their captives.
The rescued victims, who were all unharmed, include Adamu Saje, Abdulmumini Yunusa, Abdul Abubakar, and Halima Abdullahi from Usugwe community, Okehi LGA, who were abducted earlier in August.
Others are Abubakar Tukur and Hafsatu Abubakar from a Fulani camp in Apata area.
Makama noted that the families of the victims have been informed, while the security team continues to track down the fleeing suspects.
Eight kidnap victims freed after gun battle in Kogi
