Operatives of the Kogi State Government Vigilante Service (KSVS), working alongside local hunters, successfully rescued 41-year-old Muri Sadiq, an employee of the Dangote Cement Factory who was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Obajana, located within the Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident took place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, around 2 p.m. Employees who were laying a pipeline in a forested area near the Dangote Cement facility were ambushed by armed assailants.
According to an official release by Idris S. Idris, the Public Relations Officer for the KSVS, security personnel stationed at the Zariagi Sub-Command acted promptly upon receiving a distress call, engaging the suspected kidnappers in a firefight within the woods.
The security team's superior firepower compelled the criminals to withdraw, leaving several suspects with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. Despite the tactical retreat, the captors initially managed to flee with one of the workers, Muri Sadiq.
Responding to the development, KSVS personnel and local hunters regrouped, strengthened their deployment, and initiated a rescue operation to track down the victims.
Pressure from the coordinated counter-offensive eventually forced the abductors to abandon their captive, leading to the safe and unhurt recovery of the worker.
What did the leadership of the vigilante service say about the rescue?
Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Anataku, the Comptroller-General of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, lauded the personnel for their courage, encouraging them to maintain their momentum in curbing criminal elements throughout the region.
Anataku also expressed gratitude to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his consistent backing and assistance provided to the security outfit.
Issuing a stern warning, the KSVS leader told criminal networks operating within the state to either abandon their illicit trade or vacate the area, emphasizing that the service, alongside sister security agencies, maintains zero tolerance for criminal acts.
Furthermore, he appealed to residents to share timely and actionable intelligence with security authorities to aid in crime prevention and the arrest of offenders, promising complete confidentiality for all informants.