Panic As Gunmen Strike, Kidnap Abuja-Bound Passengers In Kogi

An unspecified number of passengers in an 18-seater bus have been abducted by kidnappers in Kogi State.

The incident happened at Ochadamu, along Anyigba-Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area of the state around 4pm on Monday November 28. 

The bus was said to be heading for Abuja from the eastern region of the country. 

It was gathered that the hoodlums in their numbers flagged down the bus at gunpoint and whisked the passengers to the bush.

The locals added further that kidnapping activities in the Ochadamu flash point had reduced drastically, but picked up recently after the army checkpoint in the areas were dismantled following a fatal accident on the highway.

The security operatives, including the vigilantes in the areas were said to be making frantic efforts to rescue the kidnapped victims since the incident happened.

Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), the state security adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, December 1, 2022, to Daily Trust, said the state government is on top of it.

He stated that the state government had put enough measures in place to stem the tide of criminal activities in the area.

He said since the hoodlums were coming back to operate on the road again, the government would rejig its measures, adding that the hoodlums would be neutralised shortly.

"We have fought them; we will fight them; and we will continue to fight them until they are neutralised in that axis of the state. Security agents have been alerted and they will do the needful,” he said.