Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have rescued a woman and her six-month-old baby after a kidnapping incident in Egbe, located in Kogi State.
The victims were among five members of a family abducted late Wednesday night when suspected terrorists reportedly stormed a residence near Solid Rock School in the Ijalu area of Egbe, within Yagba West Local Government Area.
According to the Army, soldiers swiftly responded to a distress call and, alongside members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, launched a pursuit operation along the kidnappers’ escape route.
The sustained pressure from the security team reportedly forced the abductors to abandon the woman and her infant near the Oro axis before fleeing into nearby bushes.
The rescued victims were safely reunited with their family, while efforts continue to locate and free the remaining abductees and apprehend those responsible.
In a statement, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, said the operation was triggered by an emergency report from the community.
“Upon receiving the distress report, troops immediately mobilized in conjunction with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), launching a pursuit operation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that the brigade has recorded other recent successes, including the rescue of 23 passengers during a counter-kidnapping operation along the Ayegunle–Bunu road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area on June 1.
He added that troops also foiled another kidnapping attempt in Lokoja on May 30 and neutralised a suspected terrorist during an ambush operation.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.