Troops foil kidnap attempt in Kogi, neutralise suspected terrorist

Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have successfully foiled a kidnap attempt in Kogi State and neutralised a suspected terrorist during a security operation in Lokoja Local Government Area.

The development was disclosed on Saturday night by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post shared on X, where details of the military operation were highlighted.

According to the post, the operation took place on May 30 following credible intelligence that suspected criminals were planning a kidnap attack around Jakura II community.

Troops were said to have swiftly moved into the area and positioned themselves along a suspected crossing point on the Old Obajana–Tajimi road, where they laid an ambush for the attackers.

During the operation, the soldiers made contact with the armed group, leading to a gun battle.

One of the suspects was neutralised in the exchange, while others reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.

“After the operation, troops searched the area and recovered one AK-47 rifle, five magazines, 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a bandolier, and mobile phones,” he added

Security sources said the recovery confirmed the involvement of the group in kidnapping activities within the area.

The Nigerian Army said follow-up operations were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks.