Kogi: Security Operatives Rescue Three Pastors, 13 Others After Intense Gun Battle

A team of security operatives in Kogi State has rescued 16 kidnapped victims, including three pastors, following a gun battle with abductors in Ofu Local Government Area.

The victims were taken captive on Monday, January 20, while returning to their guest house after the second day of a three-day crusade in Ejule. The attack occurred around 11 p.m. along a street off the Ejule-Anyigba road.

Upon receiving the distress call, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies launched a coordinated search operation that lasted two nights. Their efforts led them to a forest hideout, where they engaged the kidnappers in a fierce two-hour gunfight. The assailants eventually fled, leaving the hostages unharmed.

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Joel Salifu, commended the swift response and bravery of the security personnel. In a statement by his Press Secretary, Emmanuel Unubi, Salifu expressed relief over the safe return of the victims and reaffirmed the state government’s tough stance against criminal activities. He emphasized that under Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration, Kogi would not serve as a haven for criminals.

“The government remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property,” Salifu stated.