Kogi State has successfully rescued four people abducted in an attack on an unlicensed exam centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area. The state's commissioner for information and communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, announced the development on Thursday.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo immediately ordered a coordinated security operation after the kidnapping, Fanwo said. The State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), was tasked with leading the joint mission.
The rescue involved personnel from the Nigerian Army's 12 Brigade and 21 Battalion, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilante groups and other security operatives. They conducted an intensive forest operation to track down the abductors.
The governor was inspecting armoured personnel carriers procured by the state to combat crime when he assured journalists that efforts were underway to free the victims. Within hours, the four had regained their freedom.
"The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee," Fanwo said in his statement.
The rescued victims included a school principal, a NECO official and two students. All four were declared safe and are undergoing debriefing and medical checks with security agencies.
Operations in the forest remain ongoing, with security operatives determined to ensure no criminals escape prosecution. "Anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law," Fanwo declared.
The commissioner commended the gallantry and professionalism displayed by all security personnel involved in the operation. He described their swift action as evidence of how effective inter-agency collaboration can be in combating insecurity.
Fanwo also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support. The president had directed heads of security agencies to provide Kogi with necessary assistance, he noted.
"The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims. Today, that support has yielded the desired result," the commissioner added.
Governor Ododo's administration remains committed to eliminating criminal elements across the state, according to Fanwo. The government will continue investing in intelligence gathering, security logistics and multi-agency cooperation to protect lives and property.
