Following the kidnapping incident along the Okene-Auchi road, the Kogi State Police Command has intensified ongoing rescue and search operations for kidnapped victims. The initiative involves a coordinated deployment of police and military personnel to forest areas suspected of serving as hideouts for the perpetrators.
Police Public Relations Officer Saliu Oyiza Afusat disclosed in a Lokoja statement on Sunday that the Command immediately activated its rescue response. It commenced intelligence-driven bush-combing operations across identified forest corridors within the Okene-Ajaokuta axis, particularly around the Ebiya Forest and adjoining areas.
The operation features personnel from the Okene Area Command, the 77 Police Mobile Force Squadron, the Okene and Adavi divisions, the State Command Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit, and Nigerian Army detachments from local Forward Operating Bases. The Edo State Police Command has also provided operational support, including its own anti-kidnapping tactical personnel.
To deny criminal elements any escape routes, the Command has strengthened joint operations along the Kogi-Edo border. Security personnel are conducting coordinated clearance operations and intelligence-driven patrols in forest locations linked to the incident.
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During the search, security teams identified and searched suspected criminal hideouts, recovering items such as foodstuffs, cooking ingredients, an Army-pattern jungle hat, and a National Identity Card.
Police subsequently destroyed and set ablaze the identified hideouts to prevent further use by the perpetrators. Although initial searches yielded no rescued victims, security forces have maintained their advance into the forest and adjoining axes.
Surveillance Drones Deployed in Ongoing Search
Operations continued into Saturday, August 8, 2026, with tactical teams advancing towards locations of interest along the Ajaokuta and Adoko axes. Technical support, including surveillance drones deployed by the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Police Command, is being utilised to enhance intelligence gathering.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police Naziru Bello Kankarofi directed operational teams to sustain rescue efforts until victims are safely recovered and perpetrators face justice. He assured the public that the Command is collaborating closely with sister agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure criminals do not escape the law.
The Command acknowledged the anxiety generated by the incident and urged residents in affected areas to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive by providing timely, credible security information. The safety and recovery of the victims remain the immediate priority.
Stakeholder Engagements Restore Peace in Abugi
In a related development, the Command has taken decisive steps following recent reprisal killings at Abugi and adjoining communities to prevent further escalation and restore peace.
The Lokoja Area Command, in conjunction with relevant security and community stakeholders, conducted critical engagements with traditional rulers and community leaders. These discussions focused on reconciliation, the restoration of peaceful coexistence, and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
The State Criminal Investigation Department has launched a full-scale investigation into the incident to identify, trace, and apprehend all participants. Personnel remain strategically deployed within the affected communities to protect lives and property and prevent further violence.
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Following these interventions, normalcy has returned to Abugi and its environs, while security monitoring continues to ensure sustained peace. Commissioner of Police Naziru Bello Kankarofi reiterated the Command’s full commitment to protecting lives and property across the state. He urged the public to remain law-abiding and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies.
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