Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of five persons and the abduction of several others following a violent attack on a commercial passenger bus along the Oshokoshoko/Agbede Highway, near a military checkpoint in the state.
Security sources, according to Zagazola Makama, disclosed that the incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, when heavily armed gunmen barricaded the highway and opened fire on vehicles plying the route.
One of the vehicles caught in the ambush was an 18-seater Toyota commercial bus with Jigawa State registration number HJA 687 YD, which was travelling from Abuja to Ilesha. The bus was reportedly riddled with bullets during the attack.
“Five unidentified corpses with gunshot injuries were recovered at the scene,” a security source said.
The sources further revealed that one of the passengers, Naziru Aliyu, was rescued with gunshot wounds and immediately taken to Fisayo Hospital for medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased victims were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary in Lokoja.
Following the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obajana was said to have swiftly mobilised joint security operatives to the area to conduct assessment and initiate rescue operations.
Subsequent bush-combing and intelligence-driven efforts led to the rescue of 14 additional passengers, identified as 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 and Simon Obadiah.
Some of the rescued passengers sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Fisayo Hospital.
Police authorities disclosed that about four passengers from the bus are still unaccounted for.
Investigations into the attack have commenced, while efforts to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators have been intensified.
The Kogi State Police Command assured residents and road users of its determination to restore safety along the highway and ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
