Soldiers Rescue Eight Abducted Commuters on Okene–Auchi Highway
Soldiers Rescue Eight Abducted Commuters on Okene–Auchi Highway
Troops of the Nigerian Army, working in collaboration with the Police, have rescued eight commuters who were abducted by gunmen along the Okene–Auchi Highway in Kogi State.
The incident occurred on Friday at Tyre village in Okene Local Government Area when nine armed men dressed in military camouflage intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd.
The bus, reportedly conveying passengers to the southern part of the country, was forced to a halt before the attackers whisked away some of the occupants into the bush.
Security sources revealed that a swift response by the troops, acting on intelligence, led to a coordinated operation that saw the victims rescued unharmed.
The joint security team engaged in a chase and combed the surrounding forest areas, compelling the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee.
The rescued commuters were later handed over to the Police Division in Okene, where they were reunited with their families and relatives.
A senior security officer, who confirmed the operation, assured that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing gunmen. He added that surveillance has been intensified along the Okene Auchi Highway to forestall further attacks.
The Okene Auchi axis has in recent years witnessed sporadic incidents of highway abductions, raising concerns over the safety of road users. Friday’s rescue operation, however, has been hailed by locals as a demonstration of improved synergy between security agencies in tackling banditry and other criminal activities in the region.
