Kogi State witnessed two separate abduction incidents on Saturday, April 19, resulting in a combined number of victims being taken hostage by suspected armed kidnappers. While several have been rescued, security forces are continuing search and rescue operations for the remaining victims.
Incident 1: Commercial Bus Hijacked
The first incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. when armed hoodlums intercepted an Opel Space commercial bus en route from Ilorin to Isanlu. Seven passengers were forcefully abducted and led into the surrounding forested area by the attackers.
Security operatives swiftly responded and rescued four of the victims after combing the area. Three others remain missing, and operations are ongoing to track their whereabouts and apprehend the perpetrators.
Incident 2: Politician’s Convoy Attacked
Hours later, at around 3:30 p.m., the convoy of Hon. Obinna Chidoka, a politician from Anambra State, came under attack along Mamerebo Village on the Itobe-Anyingba Road. The politician’s Toyota Hilux vehicle was shot at, and his driver, Ngozi Kingsley, sustained a bullet wound to the left leg.
Despite the injury, Kingsley managed to escape and alert authorities at a nearby police station. He was later rushed to Royal Medical Centre for treatment.
Additional Abductions
Following the ambush, police discovered a Toyota Hiace bus at the scene. Its driver, Ogwuebu George, reported that his vehicle, traveling from Abuja to Umuahia, was intercepted by the same assailants, who abducted five passengers.
In a related assault, a Passat Golf car was also stopped by the kidnappers. The driver was taken, while four passengers were left unharmed and rescued by security forces.
Police Response and Investigation
Both the Toyota Hiace and Passat Golf vehicles were recovered and secured at the police station. The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that search and rescue efforts are ongoing for those still in captivity, and a full-scale manhunt has been launched to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies. Authorities are also working with local communities and vigilante groups to enhance intelligence gathering in the affected regions.
This latest series of abductions adds to rising concerns about the state of security along key roads in central Nigeria, especially within Kogi State, a strategic gateway linking the north and south of the country.
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