The 16 kidnapped National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) members rescued by security operatives in Kogi State were on Monday night moved to Lokoja where they were handed over to the NYSC management in the state.
Also moved to Lokoja were five other passengers kidnapped along with them on the Kogi Highway last Friday while they were travelling from Bayelsa to Abuja. .
The victims appeared worn out.
They declined comments but expressed gratitude to God and the security operatives for their rescue.
It was learnt that two of the rescued victims injured by the gunmen were taken to a hospital after their arrival in Lokoja.
The Police Commissioner, Naziru Kakanrofi, interacted with the rescued victims at the police headquarters for about one hour before they were handed over to the NYSC management and their family members.
Kakanrofi told reporters that the victims were rescued earlier on Monday after the security teams, including the police,troops of the Nigerian Army, vigilantes and hunters.
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Salihu Afusat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP), explained that the incident happened on Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area.
‘ About 1640hrs, armed hoodlums emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions and abducted some passengers, while others escaped into the surrounding bush,’ he added.
The Kogi State government yesterday commended the security forces for the rescue of kidnapped victims in Dekina Local Government Area.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the operation further demonstrated the determination of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government to make criminality a regrettable trade for criminals.
The statement read: ‘Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for equipping the nation’s security forces to effectively combat violent crimes across the country. He also commended the heads of the various security agencies as well as the officers and men who participated in the operation.
‘Criminals will always regret stepping on Kogi State. We will never wag our tails before cowards who take arms against the state. Kogi is always ready to obliterate any threat to lives and property in the state.’
The governor also commended the National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director-General, Department of State Services(DSS), Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and local security operatives for their organisational acumen, courage and effective response to the incident.
The governor assured the people of Kogi that his administration would continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and security structures to protect lives and property.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible and timely information to security agencies, stressing that the collective support of citizens remains vital to the fight against kidnapping and other forms of criminality.