Gunmen Abduct Four Along Notorious Kogi Highway

Four travellers were reportedly abducted by bandits on Sunday afternoon along the road near the Odo-Ogbe community in Kogi State's Yagba East Local Government Area. Locals report the victims were on motorcycles when the attack occurred around 2pm.

The armed men reportedly intercepted the travellers' motorcycles and forced them into the nearby bush. Among the victims was a well-known local identified as Oju lari, a popular young man in the Odo-Ogbe community.

According to community sources, the incessant abductions of travellers on rural roads in the communities have continued to unsettle residents.

A resident of Egbe, Adeboye Adebambo, said, “We are perpetually living in fear in the community. The young men riding on motorcycle in Odo -Ogbe to access neighbouring community in the afternoon on Sunday ran into their barricade, and got abducted under gun threat.

“Perhaps, the government is trying to bring the situation under control by deploying troops to the axis, backed by chopper for effective surveillance and action; unfortunately, these hoodlums kept operating with impunity in our communities.”

Bandits have reportedly intensified their attacks on roads and communities in the last few weeks in the axis where Kogi shares boundaries with Kwara state.

Kidnapping is said to be on the rise, with several travellers reportedly abducted while in transit.

Efforts to reach Kogi State Police Command’s spokesperson, CSP William Aya, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages placed on his phone.