The Kogi State Police Command, working in collaboration with other security agencies, has rescued 16 victims who were abducted along the Itobe–Anyigba highway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

The victims — 12 adults and four children — were kidnapped while travelling along the highway. Two of those abducted were officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Addressing journalists in Lokoja, the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said the victims were freed during a fierce gun battle between security operatives and the armed attackers.

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Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) have rescued 33 passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Acting on credible information received in the late afternoon of 8 August 2026, the troops, working with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force deployed in Tsafe, responded swiftly to reports that terrorists had kidnapped commuters travelling through the Magazu area.

The troops mobilised to the location and made contact with the terrorists, who were already moving the abducted passengers towards an unknown destination. Engaging the attackers with effective fire, the troops forced them to abandon their victims and flee into nearby bushes.

All 33 abducted persons were secured and rescued unharmed. Troops have since begun exploitation of the general area and are continuing efforts to track the fleeing terrorists.

The Theatre Commander, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has commended the troops for their prompt response and professionalism, which ensured the safe rescue of the passengers without any casualty. He restated the Theatre Command’s resolve to protect innocent citizens, deny terrorists freedom of action, and secure major transportation routes across the North-West.

Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and promptly share credible information on the activities and movements of terrorists and other criminal elements with security forces.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Friday night arrested three more persons suspected to be members of the kidnapping ring that abducted the dean of agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Professor Samuel Avengbe Okunsebor.

The university don was rescued by DSS operatives two days after some gunmen kidnapped him in the wee hours of Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Mile Uku, a border community between Lafia and Nasarawa-Eggon LGAs. Two suspects, including a lady, were arrested by the DSS at the time.

DSS operatives arrested the three other members of the kidnapping gang on Friday night at a local brothel on the Mararraban Akunza, Lafia – Makurdi highway

According to report, “the suspects were identified as 25-year-old Yakubu Abubakar (aka Black/Starboy), of the Doemak tribe in Plateau State;

37-year-old Usman Abubakar Mairiga,

and 27-year-old Sale Babauro Abubakar. Mairiga

and Abubakar are Hausa and Fulani respectively.

It was disclosed that the suspects are in the custody of the State Command for further investigations. The move, however, followed a valid detention warrant from a magistrate’s court.