No fewer than three pastors and 13 other victims who had been kidnapped by gunmen in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi state have been rescued by security operatives.
Chronicle NG gathered that the 16 victims, including the three pastors, were abducted after a crusade in Ejule, Ofu LG.
However, they regained their freedom following the intervention of a combined team of security personnel in the state.
The pastors, who were guest ministers at the crusade, were on their way to their guest house after the second day of the three-day crusade when they were abducted.
They were attacked by hoodlums approximately 11 p.m. on Monday, January 20, in a street off the Ejule-Anyigba road.
Upon being warned, the Nigerian Army rapidly recruited other security operators, initiating a hunt that lasted two nights before locating the kidnappers in a jungle.
After a two-hour gunfight, the kidnappers fled with varied degrees of wounded, leaving behind the victims.
On Wednesday, Kogi State Deputy Governor Joel Salifu praised the Nigerian Army and other security services for their gallantry in the rescue operation.
In a statement published by his press secretary, Emmanuel Unubi, Salifu expressed his satisfaction that the victims “were safely freed” and praised the security personnel’s efforts.
He further stated that under Governor Ahmed Ododo, Kogi will no longer be a safe haven for criminals, citing the state’s commitment to maintaining security and defending lives and property.
