Tension in Kogi as Gunmen Seize Passengers from Two Buses

Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted an unspecified number of passengers travelling in two Toyota buses along the Itobe-Ajegwu-Anyigba Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on Thursday, between Ojiwo’-Ajengo and Mamereboh villages, when the gunmen ambushed the vehicles and forced them off the highway.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers used an intercepted trailer to block the road shortly after a security checkpoint near the scene, trapping the two buses in their path.

One of the vehicles, a Toyota bus with registration number KG: KPA 622LG, was reportedly conveying passengers from Ankpa in Kogi East and heading to Abuja when it was intercepted.

A resident of the nearby Achigili community, Unubi Ademu, told journalists that several personal items belonging to the victims were recovered at the scene.

“It’s not easy to determine the number of passengers involved in the kidnapping yet. We could only establish that one of the buses was carrying passengers from Ankpa, as revealed by some scattered documents and other belongings found at the scene,” Ademu said.

He added that both buses were travelling towards Abuja when they ran into the blockade set up by the hoodlums.

“All the passengers, including the drivers of the two buses, were whisked into the criminals’ hide-out in the bush,” Ademu said.

According to locals, the attackers operated for several minutes before escaping into the forest with their captives.

Residents said security operatives, including soldiers, hunters, and local vigilantes, quickly mobilised to the scene after receiving reports of the abduction.

A resident identified as Evangelist James, who lives along the Itobe–Ajegwu–Anyigba highway, said security teams were already combing the area.

“We saw men in military uniforms driving furiously through our village towards the area,” he said.
“A brother told me that security operatives, vigilantes and hunters are already trailing the abductors in the bush to rescue the victims.”

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP William Aya, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or text messages.

Meanwhile, tension remains high among residents and travellers who frequent the Itobe–Anyigba highway, a route increasingly notorious for bandit attacks and kidnappings.