Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lokoja, Kogi State — A group of armed bandits ambushed travellers along the Ogbe–Egbe road in Kogi State on Friday, December 26, 2025, abducting five passengers and injuring another, in one of several recent violent incidents highlighting persistent insecurity along rural highways in the region. The victims were reportedly among a group of residents travelling from Ogbe to Egbe to attend a wedding ceremony when the attack occurred, thrusting families and communities into fresh alarm over the safety of commuters on the stretch.
According to initial reports, the assailants ambushed the group at a boundary point between Ogbe and Koro, opening fire and creating chaos that left one person seriously wounded. That individual was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for emergency medical attention, while the five other travellers were forcibly taken into nearby bushland by the gunmen.
Residents of Ogbe and surrounding communities reacted with shock and concern, describing the attack as part of a troubling pattern of banditry and kidnappings that have disrupted travel and undermined confidence among locals and visitors alike. The Ogun–Egbe axis, which links rural communities in the Yagba West area, has in recent months witnessed an upsurge in similar attacks, reinforcing fears that armed criminal elements continue to exploit limited security presence and isolated stretches of road to ambush travellers.
Security sources and eyewitness accounts suggest that the group of travellers had no prior indication that danger awaited them that day. Their journey, undertaken in broad daylight for a social event, was abruptly interrupted when the attackers emerged from concealment and targeted the party without warning, a hallmark tactic of bandits operating in northwest and central Nigeria.
Community leaders and residents have renewed calls for enhanced patrols and a more robust security presence along the Ogbe–Egbe road and other vulnerable corridors. Many locals argue that isolated communities, particularly those flanked by forested areas and far from regular law enforcement checkpoints, remain highly susceptible to repeated bandit strikes that disrupt livelihoods and compromise public safety.
The Kogi State Police Command has not yet released a formal statement on the incident, and it remains unclear whether security forces have launched an immediate rescue or pursuit operation for the abducted travellers. Local security analysts emphasise that prompt engagement by tactical units — often involving joint deployments with military or intelligence elements — is critical to narrowing down possible hideouts and increasing the chances of recovering captives alive.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a frequent feature of insecurity in parts of Kogi State, with previous incidents reported not only along the Ogbe–Egbe road but on other key routes such as the Egbe–Okunran–Pategi Road and stretches connecting Kogi with neighbouring states. These attacks have targeted motorists, traders, and travellers alike, often prompting community watch groups and local vigilante organisations to attempt self-help security measures in the face of perceived shortcomings in formal protection.
Experts say that addressing the entrenched pattern of ambushes and abductions in the state requires both strategic security reinforcement and community engagement. Efforts to improve road infrastructure, expand intelligence-led patrols, and intensify cooperation between state and federal security agencies are frequently cited as essential components of a holistic response to rural insecurity.
For the families of those abducted and the injured victim, the latest attack serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerability that hangs over daily life in affected regions. As investigations and response efforts continue, relatives, friends, and community members await updates with growing concern, hoping for swift recovery of the missing and strengthened measures to prevent future violence on Kogi’s rural highways.
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