The Kogi State Police Command says it has been intensifying search and rescue efforts to locate and rescue some travellers kidnapped on Auchi – Okene road on Friday.
The command in a statement obtained by Vital News on Sunday said the efforts are being implemented with a coordinated deployment of police and military personnel to forest areas suspected to be used as hideouts by the perpetrators.
ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, the state Police Public Relations Officer disclosed this in a statement released to journalists in Lokoja.
She stated that the command immediately after the incident activated its rescue response and commenced intelligence-driven bush-combing operations across identified forest corridors within the Okene–Ajokuta axis, particularly around the Ebiya Forest and adjoining areas.
“The operation involves personnel from the Area Command, Okene; 77 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Okene; Okene Division; Adavi Division; Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kogi State Command; Violent Crime Response Unit; as well as detachments of the Nigerian Army operating from Forward Operating Bases within the area.
“The operation has also received operational support from the Edo State Police Command, including its Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other tactical personnel.
“To deny the criminal elements any escape route, the Command has further strengthened joint operations across the Kogi–Edo border, with security personnel conducting coordinated clearance operations and intelligence-driven patrols in identified forest locations linked to the incident.
“As the search operation progressed, security teams identified and searched suspected criminal hideouts within the forest.
“Items recovered include foodstuffs and cooking ingredients, an Army-pattern jungle hat, and a National Identity Card, among other articles suspected to have been left behind by the criminal elements.
“The identified hideouts were subsequently destroyed and set ablaze to prevent their further use by the perpetrators.
“Although, no kidnapped victim was recovered from the locations searched during the initial phase of the operation, security forces have maintained their advance into the forest and adjoining axes in a determined effort to locate and rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.
“The operation has continued into Saturday, 8 August 2026, with tactical teams advancing towards identified locations of interest along the Ajaokuta and Adoko axes.
“Technical support, including the deployment of drones by the Nigerian Army and Edo State Police Command, is also being utilised to enhance surveillance and intelligence gathering during the operation,” the statement said.
The Spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, has also directed the operational teams to sustain the search and rescue effort until the victims are safely recovered and the perpetrators brought to justice.
“He has further assured members of the public that the Command is working closely with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the perpetrators do not escape the reach of the law.
“The Command recognises the anxiety generated by the incident and urges members of the public, particularly residents around the affected areas, to remain calm and vigilant while providing security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist the ongoing operation.
“The safety and recovery of the victims remain the Command’s immediate priority,” Saliu said.
Meanwhile, the police said calm has been restored to Abugi Kingdom in Lokoja Local Government which was a scene reprisal killings recently.
The Command said it has taken decisive steps to prevent further escalation and restore peace in the affected area.
“The Area Command, Lokoja, in conjunction with relevant security and community stakeholders, conducted critical engagements with traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders, focusing on reconciliation, restoration of peaceful coexistence and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
“The Command has also commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident through the State Criminal Investigation Department, with efforts underway to identify, trace and apprehend all persons found to have participated in or contributed to the killings.
“The investigation will be pursued diligently, and any suspect found culpable will be brought before the law to face the appropriate legal consequences.
“Personnel remain strategically deployed within the affected communities to prevent further violence and protect lives and property.
“Following the interventions and stakeholder engagements, normalcy has been restored to Abugi and its environs, with security monitoring continuing to ensure that the peace is sustained.
“The restoration of calm, however, does not in any way halt the ongoing investigation, as the Command remains committed to ensuring that those responsible for the loss of lives are identified and brought to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police reiterates that the Kogi State Police Command remains fully committed to protecting the lives and property of residents across the State.
“He urges members of the public to remain law-abiding and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the Police and other security agencies,” the statement said.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
