*Gunmen Kill APC Chairman In Kogi, Abduct One
ELEVEN people, including an unidentified number of corps members, have been rescued after gunmen attacked vehicles along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Council of Kogi State about 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria-Onicha-Igo Junction.
According to the Kogi State Police Command, the armed men emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions, abducting some of the passengers, while others escaped into the surrounding bush.
The Command said the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu led a joint security team to the scene, following a distress call, where two abandoned vehicles, a white Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus were recovered.
The Police said a coordinated bush combing and rescue operation was immediately launched, leading to the rescue of 11 abducted victims, including the drivers of the two vehicles.
The Command’s spokesperson, Afusat Saliu (ASP), said preliminary investigation indicated that most of the rescued victims were members of the National Youth Service Corps travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja.
She said the rescued victims were subsequently debriefed and allowed to continue their journey after the necessary procedures were completed, adding that the operation was ongoing in the surrounding forest, with security personnel working to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The Command assured residents and travellers along the route that available operational and intelligence resources were being deployed to secure the area and ensure the safe recovery of the remaining abductees.
In a related development, gunmen shot dead the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Dekina Local Council of the state, Ishaq Yunusa, and abducted another occupant of his vehicle on Thursday, August 27, along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway, around Ojuwo Olijo in Ofu Local Council.
Saliu, who confirmed the incident in a statement in Lokoja, on Friday, August 28, said the attack occurred about 5pm when armed assailants emerged from the surrounding bush and opened fire on motorists.
She said a blue Toyota Corolla, with registration number GWA 636 CH, was subsequently found abandoned along the highway, adding: “The driver, identified as Ishaq Yunusa, was found dead in the vehicle, while another occupant was taken into the bush by the assailants.”
The spokesperson stated that in collaboration with other security agencies, the Command had intensified operations in the area, with personnel combing the surrounding forest to locate and rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the assailants.
She said the deceased had been evacuated to Grimard Hospital in Anyigba for autopsy, while the command was pursuing all available leads in connection with the incident.
The command urged motorists and residents along the route to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to the Police or other security agencies, adding that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Naziru Kankarofi, has directed sustained operations to secure the affected corridor and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
