In a harrowing daylight ambush along the Lokoja-Kabba Road in Kogi State, suspected kidnappers opened fire on a commercial vehicle, leaving one person dead and six others injured in what police described as a foiled abduction attempt.
The brazen attack occurred on Monday, as gunmen targeted a bus transporting 23 passengers along the notorious Obajana–Oshokoshoko stretch of the highway. Swift intervention by operatives of the Kogi State Police Command, who were on a confidence-building patrol, averted what could have become another mass abduction tragedy.
In a statement issued by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, the hoodlums were intercepted mid-operation by a patrol team from the Obajana Division after officers heard intense gunfire in the area.
“The patrol team responded promptly to the sporadic gunfire heard in the area and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel,” the statement read.
Faced with superior firepower, the armed attackers reportedly fled into the surrounding bush, abandoning all 23 passengers. Sadly, one of the victims who sustained gunshot injuries died while receiving medical treatment, while six others are currently being treated for various degrees of injuries.
In a related development, police operatives attached to Ayingba Division arrested two suspects, identified as Umaru Jibril and Lukman Umaru, on June 21, 2025. The duo was found in possession of a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
Commissioner of Police, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, assured residents of the command’s renewed determination to combat violent crimes across the state in synergy with other security agencies. He praised the gallantry of the patrol team and reiterated that no inch of Kogi would be ceded to criminals.
He further confirmed that the arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
As the state continues to grapple with the scourge of banditry and kidnapping, the prompt response from security forces offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against highway terror.
PIONEER NEWS 