Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lokoja, have rescued six victims kidnapped during last Sunday’s attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba community, Yagba East Local Council of Kogi State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the abducted worshippers—including the pastor and his wife—were freed during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation conducted within the Ejiba and Saminaka Forest axis, which spans Yagba East and Yagba West councils.
Announcing the development in Lokoja, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, said:
“In the ongoing onslaught against banditry and kidnapping across Kogi State, troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have recorded another operational success with the rescue of six kidnapped victims during a coordinated search and rescue mission conducted within the Ejiba and Saminaka Forest axis spanning Yagba East and Yagba West Local Government Areas.”
He added that the operation was part of sustained efforts to curb criminal activities and strengthen regional security.
“The operation, which followed intensified air and ground offensives by troops and supported by the Nigeria Police helicopter, yielded positive results when troops deployed at Patrol Base Ejiba in Yagba West intercepted the kidnap victims.”
According to Abdullahi, the victims were found in stable condition and were believed to have been released due to “the sustained pressure mounted by troops during the joint operations.”
Five of the rescued individuals have been debriefed and reunited with their families in Egbe and Ejiba, while the sixth victim is receiving medical care “due to his condition at the point of rescue.”
Reaffirming the Army’s commitment to public safety, the Brigade stated:
“Troops will continue to intensify operations, dominate the forests and identified hideouts, and deny criminals the freedom of action.”
Meanwhile, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, has insisted that the state government will not negotiate with criminal groups under any circumstances.
Speaking on a live programme, Fanwo declared:
“The state government is maintaining its zero-tolerance stance on negotiating with criminal elements. We will never bow to bandits under any circumstances.”
He emphasized that Governor Usman Ododo’s administration has no intention of engaging in discussions or ransom deals, noting that the state has “both the will and the capacity to confront criminal networks.”
Fanwo also addressed a recent incident in which kidnappers engaged military operatives in a gun duel that claimed two civilian lives. While regretting the deaths, he maintained that the strong security response sent a clear message to the assailants.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to aggressive security measures, stressing that the state will continue deploying its comprehensive security architecture to neutralize threats and safeguard residents.
