Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kogi State, Nigeria — Armed assailants opened fire on a vehicle traveling along the Kabba–Okene Expressway, injuring at least one passenger in a brazen roadside attack that underscores the persistent insecurity plaguing major highways in the region. The shooting, which occurred late yesterday evening, left travellers shaken and raised fresh concerns about the safety of road users on one of Kogi’s busiest transport corridors.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle was en route between Kabba and Okene when gunmen, believed to be highway robbers or bandits, suddenly emerged from a roadside bush and began shooting at the moving vehicle. One of the passengers was hit by gunfire and received serious injuries, forcing the driver to stop and seek urgent medical attention at a nearby health facility.
The Kabba–Okene Expressway, which links the northern and southern parts of the country and serves as a key transit route for commuters and commercial traffic, has in recent months witnessed a noticeable uptick in violent incidents. In a separate incident last November, armed individuals attacked a bus along the same highway, opened fire on the vehicle and subsequently abducted several passengers after breaking into the bus with machetes when bullets failed to penetrate its bodywork. That earlier attack illustrated how assailants have increasingly targeted motorists with little regard for public safety.
Local security sources said that the attackers in last night’s incident struck with precision before fleeing into nearby bushland, making immediate pursuit difficult for arriving security responders. As of this morning, there has been no official statement from the Kogi State Police Command, but residents in towns and villages along the expressway have expressed frustration and fear, urging authorities to enhance patrols and surveillance on the route.
Community leaders and road user associations have repeatedly called for a stronger security presence along major federal roads crisscrossing Kogi State, citing repeated kidnappings, ambushes and armed robberies that have marred travel and commerce. Analysts note that the Kabba–Okene corridor, as well as neighbouring highways such as the Ayere–Kabba and Okene–Lokoja roads, have emerged as flashpoints for criminal activity, where assailants exploit stretches with sparse security deployment to ambush unsuspecting motorists.
In an earlier attack on the Ayere–Kabba road, suspected bandits ambushed multiple vehicles, killing at least one person and injuring several others, with some passengers sustaining gunshot wounds before being taken to hospital. Such incidents have compounded public anxiety and underlined the urgency of coordinated action by security agencies, local vigilante groups and community stakeholders to secure vulnerable stretches of road.
The injured passenger from last night’s shooting was reported to be in stable condition but remains under medical care. Other occupants of the vehicle escaped without physical harm but were traumatised by the sudden assault. In the aftermath of the attack, motorists have been advised to travel in convoys where possible and to remain vigilant, especially during late hours when such violent incidents are more likely to occur.
Meanwhile, residents and transport unions are calling on both federal and state authorities to implement more proactive measures, including increased patrols by police and military units, better intelligence‑sharing with local communities, and deployment of rapid‑response teams along critical highway corridors. The goal, they say, is not only to deter future attacks but also to restore confidence among commuters who depend on these roads for daily travel and economic activity.
As security forces investigate the latest attack, pressure is mounting on government officials to deliver tangible improvements in road safety. In the interim, the risk to travellers remains acute, and many are urging a swift, coordinated response to disrupt the cycle of violence affecting key transportation arteries in Kogi State and beyond.
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