A coordinated operation by the Kogi State Joint Security Forces has resulted in the rescue of 22 kidnap victims, including 15 church worshippers who had been held captive for over two months.
The victims regained their freedom on Saturday night following a sustained offensive by a joint team comprising military personnel, police, local hunters, and vigilante groups.
The security operation targeted criminal hideouts located in the forests along the border between Kogi and Kwara states.
Among those rescued were four residents of Idofin-Igbana who had been held since April, 15 congregants from an Eda Oniyo church who were abducted during a night vigil in late April, and three members of the ECWA Church in Omugo who were kidnapped during a service in early April.
The Joint Security Watch for Kwara South confirmed that the intense pressure applied by the security forces forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee the area. The freed individuals have since begun reuniting with their families as they receive medical support and care.
While this mission marks a significant breakthrough, authorities noted that several other unidentified victims were also freed during the same operation. Security officials emphasized that the success of this mission highlights the effectiveness of ongoing, proactive operations targeting criminal corridors in the border forests, which have faced persistent challenges with kidnapping in recent months.
The leadership of the regional security watch praised the bravery of the personnel involved, describing the rescue as a major step toward restoring safety to the border communities. Local authorities have pledged to continue these intensified security measures to ensure lasting peace and to hold those responsible for the abductions accountable.
