Troops of 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army secured the release of Adekemi Idowu and her six-month-old infant in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State. The rescue operation was carried out on June 3, 2026, following a coordinated response to the attack on Ijalu community.

The mother and child were among five members of one family abducted when gunmen invaded their home near Solid Rock School in Ijalu. Witnesses said the attackers stormed the residence late at night and forced the family into nearby bush paths before troops intervened. Three other family members remain in captivity as security forces continue tracking the assailants.

According to military sources, the operation was part of sustained clearance efforts by 12 Brigade to dismantle hideouts used by kidnappers in Kogi West. Officials withheld tactical details of the rescue to protect ongoing operations and the safety of troops still searching for the remaining victims.

The attack adds to a pattern of insecurity in Yagba West, where farming communities have reported repeated invasions by armed groups. Residents and local leaders have repeatedly called for increased patrols and stronger collaboration between the army and local vigilante networks to curb abductions along the Kogi-Kwara border.

The Nigerian Army has assured that search efforts will continue until all abducted persons are freed. Authorities urged residents to share credible intelligence to help troops locate the kidnappers’ camps and prevent future attacks in the area.

Sources: The Nigeria Army,The Nation, TVC News, Nigerian Tribune.