Gunmen Kill Five, Abduct Several Passengers in Kogi State

Gunmen ambushed a commercial bus traveling from Abuja to Ilesha along the Oshokoshoko/Agbede Highway in Kogi State early Friday morning, killing at least five passengers and abducting several others.The attack occurred around 12:10 a.m. on January 30, 2026, near a military checkpoint on the busy route. Heavily armed assailants blocked the highway and opened fire indiscriminately on vehicles in transit.The targeted vehicle was an 18-seater Toyota bus with Jigawa State registration number HJA 687 YD, carrying passengers from the Federal Capital Territory to Osun State. The bus was riddled with bullets during the assault.Five unidentified bodies, all bearing gunshot wounds, were recovered at the scene. One injured survivor, identified as Naziru Aliyu, was rescued and rushed to Fisayo Hospital for treatment. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary in Lokoja.The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obajana quickly mobilized joint security teams to the scene for assessment, rescue, and scene preservation. Subsequent bush-combing and intelligence-led operations resulted in the rescue of 14 additional passengers:Qorib Akere Hamsatu Umar Maryam Abubakar Alpha Abdullateef Alpha Uammi Adamu Sanni Yahaya Engr. Wojuola Olajide Ademola Ibrahim Fidelis Ajeh Musa Muhammed Nehemiah Gyang Kanini Moses Simon Obadiah Several of the rescued victims also sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving medical care at Fisayo Hospital.According to police sources, about four passengers from the bus remain unaccounted for, raising fears they may have been abducted.The Kogi State Police Command has launched a full investigation and intensified operations to locate the missing individuals, apprehend the perpetrators, and prevent further attacks along the corridor.The command reiterated its commitment to restoring safety on major highways in the state and assured residents and travelers that efforts to bring the attackers to justice are ongoing.

Read More