- Bandits Attack Two Buses On Kogi Highway, Abduct Passengers.
- Soldiers engage gunmen and later reopen the road to travellers.
- Kogi faces rising insecurity as school attacks and abductions increase.
The Osokoko Obajanaa road in Kogi State was thrown into panic on Thursday after bandits attacked two commercial buses, forcing travellers to flee as gunmen opened fire on the highway.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to local reports, the attackers targeted two 18 seater buses. One driver managed to accelerate and escape, but the second bus was halted, and all passengers were taken into the bush by the armed men. Eyewitnesses said no one from the seized vehicle got away, while authorities have yet to confirm the number of abducted travellers.
Soldiers arrived at the scene moments later and engaged the bandits, temporarily shutting down the road. A video widely circulated online showed stranded commuters waiting as troops cleared the area before reopening the route. Residents have since advised motorists to avoid the axis until security operatives fully secure the stretch.
In one of the videos shared by travellers, a woman announced that movement had resumed, thanking the military for their intervention. Witnesses said the swift response prevented casualties and property damage, forcing the attackers to withdraw.
Thursday’s attack adds to growing insecurity in Kogi State, where armed groups have increasingly targeted vulnerable communities and transit routes. Just a day earlier, Kiri High School in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, was attacked by gunmen. Members of the Kiri Vigilante Group responded quickly and rescued all abducted students, though one vigilante was killed in the shootout. A resident also reported the death of another individual during the incident.
The rise in such incidents forms part of a wider pattern of escalating kidnappings across Nigeria’s north central region, where more than 400 people, mostly schoolchildren, have been abducted since mid November.
The trend has drawn condemnation from the United States and religious leaders globally, who are urging stronger security measures to protect affected communities.
