Gunmen abducted dozens of passengers in a broad daylight ambush on Thursday during the Kogi Highway attack.
The armed men blocked the busy Anyigba-Itobe road, forcing several buses to stop before shooting into the air and ordering travellers out.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the gunmen, numbering over fifteen, moved passengers into the nearby forest under heavy gunfire. Some escaped through surrounding bushes, while others were taken away in the chaos.
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According to reports, the victims were travelling from Lokoja to Abuja when the attackers struck between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Local vigilantes and security operatives later arrived at the scene, but the kidnappers had already fled with their captives. However, police have begun a manhunt across nearby forest routes to rescue the victims.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident and assured residents that rescue efforts are underway.
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Police spokesperson William Ovye Aya said reinforcements had been deployed to track down the perpetrators and ensure the victims’ safe return. He urged commuters to remain calm and avoid travelling at night until security improves.
The Kogi Highway attack highlights Nigeria’s worsening road insecurity, which has affected major routes nationwide in recent months.
Residents and travellers have continued to demand tighter patrols and more checkpoints on highways prone to such ambushes. Many social media users expressed outrage, calling on federal and state authorities to restore safety on Nigerian roads.
As investigations progress, security experts warn that the Kogi-Benue axis remains a high-risk corridor for abductions.
The government has yet to issue an official statement on the rising cases of highway attacks in the North-Central region.
