A little girl’s emotional thank-you to a soldier has drawn attention after a major rescue operation in Kogi State.
The child was among 16 kidnapped victims rescued by security forces after a gun battle with suspected kidnappers.
A video shared by Kogi State Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, John Adama Akola, captured the touching moment.
The soldier carried the girl out of the forest after troops and other security personnel rescued the captives.
The victims were abducted on August 9, 2026, when armed men attacked three vehicles in Ofu Local Government Area.
The attacks occurred along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe roads, according to the Nigerian Army.
Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, confirmed the rescue in a statement.
She said troops received information that the victims had been seen around Adumu community in Dekina.
Troops from 21 Battalion and personnel of NNS Lugard then joined police and local security groups.
The joint team launched a search operation and later encountered the suspected kidnappers.
A gun battle followed, forcing the attackers to abandon their victims and flee into the forest.
“The criminals abandoned all their captives and escaped into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds,” Anele said.
The rescued group included six adult men, six adult women and four children.
The victims are undergoing documentation and medical checks before returning to their families.
One local hunter was killed during the operation, while a police officer suffered injuries.
Authorities have urged residents to stay alert and provide useful information about suspicious activities.
