Police rescue 14 kidnap victims after gun battle with abductors near Ajaokuta

In a major breakthrough, the Nigeria Police Force has successfully rescued 14 kidnap victims who were abducted in Edo State, following a coordinated security operation that culminated in a fierce gun battle near Ajaokuta in Kogi State.

The operation was confirmed in a statement released on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi. According to the statement, the rescue mission was launched after gunmen attacked travelers along a major route in Edo State, sparking widespread alarm and triggering a swift response from security operatives.

The police, in collaboration with other security agencies, tracked the kidnappers to their hideout near Ajaokuta, where a heavy exchange of gunfire ensued. The superior firepower of the operatives eventually forced the criminals to flee, leaving behind the abducted victims.

“In Edo State on Friday, July 11th, 2025, at about 7:20 pm, police operatives of the state command responded to an attack along the Fugar-Agenebode road in Etsako East Local Government Area, where suspected kidnappers ambushed commuters, resulting in the death of two persons and the abduction of several others,” the statement said.

The police said a rapid joint response by operatives and local security units launched a search-and-rescue mission in the Obe Hill area, close to the Ajaokuta axis in Kogi.

“A swift joint operation involving police operatives and local security outfits led to a coordinated search-and-rescue mission in the Obe Hill area, near the Ajaokuta axis. The rescue team engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel near Obe Hill, causing them to flee with various degrees of gunshot injuries, and successfully rescued fourteen (14) kidnapped victims. Efforts are being intensified to ensure the fleeing perpetrators are brought to justice,” the statement added.

The police also reported a similar breakthrough in Taraba State.

“In a related development in Taraba State on Saturday, July 12th, 2025, at about 11:45 pm, Police operatives responded swiftly to a distress call reporting a kidnapping incident along the Wukari highway, after Federal University Wukari, where a white Toyota bus conveying 17 passengers from Enugu to Yola, Adamawa State, had been ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers. Upon receiving the call, operatives mobilised in collaboration with other security agencies and advanced to the scene. On sighting the approaching security forces, the suspected kidnappers fled into the surrounding bush, leaving behind all 17 kidnapped victims unhurt. Efforts are underway to apprehend the fleeing culprits,” the police said.