Gunmen kidnap 12 passengers in Kogi, eight rescued, four missing
Gunmen on Thursday struck along a route in Kogi State, abducting 12 passengers from a commercial bus. The vulnerable travellers included men, women and youths on their way between local towns.
Security sources say that response teams were mobilised quickly. By evening, eight of the abductees had been rescued, while efforts continue to free the remaining four, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The rescued individuals are now receiving medical attention and counselling, while authorities interrogate them for clues about the fate of their missing companions.
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Witnesses describe how the attackers appeared suddenly from the bush, brandishing weapons and forcing the bus driver to stop. The passengers were then ordered off the vehicle and led away at gunpoint.
One of the rescued victims recounted the terrifying moments: “They came out of the forest, shouting and shooting into the air to make us comply. We had no option but to leave the vehicle.”
Security operatives composed of police, army and local trackers, moved swiftly into surrounding forest areas to chase the kidnappers. The terrain, however, is hilly and thickly vegetated, giving the assailants cover.
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Officials have confirmed that ransom demands were made, though the exact sum is yet to be publicly disclosed. They say negotiations are ongoing under tight security protocols to avoid further harm.
The incident has sparked concern among residents, many of whom now view travelling by road in certain parts of Kogi as a gamble. Traders, commuters and students are reportedly avoiding routes considered high-risk.
Kogi’s state government condemned the attack, calling on security agencies to intensify patrols and clamp down on criminal gangs targeting road users.
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