Security operatives in Kogi State have launched an extensive forest combing operation following a reported kidnapping along the Okene–Auchi Road, as efforts to rescue victims and apprehend the perpetrators intensify.
The joint operation, led by the Kogi State Police Command in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, involves the deployment of tactical teams, intelligence units, and drone surveillance across suspected criminal hideouts.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Salisu, the rescue mission began immediately after the incident was reported.
Security personnel were dispatched to strategic locations, particularly within the Okene–Ajaokuta axis, including the Ebiya Forest and surrounding areas believed to serve as hideouts for the kidnappers.
The operation includes officers from the Area Command in Okene, the 77 Police Mobile Force Squadron, divisional units, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the Violent Crime Response Unit.
Military personnel from Forward Operating Bases are also actively involved, alongside support from the Edo State Police Command.
To block escape routes, security agencies have strengthened surveillance along the Kogi–Edo border, conducting coordinated patrols and clearance operations in identified forest corridors linked to the crime.
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During the initial phase of the search, operatives discovered and dismantled several suspected hideouts. Items recovered at the locations included food supplies, cooking materials, an army-pattern jungle hat, and a National Identity Card believed to belong to the suspects.
The hideouts were subsequently destroyed to prevent further use.
Despite these efforts, no victims were rescued during the early stage of the operation.
However, authorities confirmed that the search continues, with teams advancing deeper into forest areas around Ajaokuta and Adoko.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Kankarofi, has directed all units to sustain the operation until the victims are safely rescued and those responsible are brought to justice.
He reassured residents that security agencies remain fully committed to the mission and urged the public to stay calm, vigilant, and provide credible information that could aid ongoing efforts.
The safety and recovery of the victims remain the top priority for the authorities.
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