Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Armed bandits have carried out a violent attack in the Ijagbe community of Mopamuro Local Government Area in Kogi State, abducting six passengers after opening fire on a commercial bus along the Ijowa–Ijagbe axis on the evening of February 27, 2026. The assault has heightened security anxiety among residents, who say the region has increasingly become vulnerable to armed criminal operations in recent months.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers emerged from nearby bushland bordering the highway, suggesting that the assailants may have been monitoring vehicular movement before launching the ambush. The gunmen reportedly fired multiple rounds into the moving commercial bus to force it to a halt. During the assault, the driver of the vehicle was critically injured after sustaining gunshot wounds. Local sources said he was rushed to a medical facility whose identity was not disclosed, and his current medical condition remains uncertain.
After disabling the bus, the attackers conducted a forced selection operation, dragging out passengers from the vehicle. According to witnesses, six individuals were abducted — five males and one female — and were immediately taken into the surrounding forested terrain. The abductors reportedly moved swiftly away from the highway, indicating prior knowledge of escape routes within the environment.
Residents who spoke anonymously described the incident as highly coordinated and professionally executed. One community member said the attackers appeared to have studied traffic patterns along the road, noting that the ambush occurred during a period when commercial transport activity was still moderately high. Another witness stated that other passengers inside the bus fled into nearby bushes during the confusion caused by the gunfire, although their exact number and safety status were not immediately confirmed.
The attack has intensified fears among inhabitants of Ijagbe and surrounding settlements. Many residents reported that they have begun restricting nighttime movement due to the perceived presence of armed criminal networks operating within forest corridors linking communities across the region. Farmers in the area also expressed concern that insecurity may further disrupt agricultural activities, which constitute a major source of livelihood for local populations.
As of the time of reporting, no official statement had been released by security agencies operating in Nigeria regarding the attack. Authorities have not confirmed whether any rescue operation has been launched, nor have they disclosed whether intelligence units are tracking the abductors.
Security analysts familiar with the region say that highway abductions have become a recurring challenge in parts of central and northern Nigeria. The combination of porous forest cover, limited surveillance infrastructure, and economic incentives associated with ransom kidnapping has allowed criminal groups to operate with relative mobility across multiple local jurisdictions.
The Mopamuro corridor, which connects several rural communities, has been identified in past security briefings as a vulnerable transit zone. Local transport operators have repeatedly called for increased deployment of patrol units along the road, arguing that commercial buses remain soft targets for bandit groups seeking high-value civilian hostages.
The emotional impact of the attack has spread quickly across the community. Families of the abducted passengers were reported to be waiting anxiously for any communication from the kidnappers. There were no immediate reports confirming whether ransom demands had been transmitted to relatives or community representatives.
Village leaders in Ijagbe urged calm but expressed frustration over the recurring security incidents affecting the region. Some community stakeholders argued that economic hardship and unemployment among rural youth populations have indirectly contributed to the growth of criminal networks that recruit or collaborate with bandit elements.
Local civil society observers have called on state and federal authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering around forest settlements suspected of harbouring armed groups. Security experts recommend improved aerial surveillance, community policing networks, and rapid-response patrol deployment along major rural highways.
The attack adds to growing national concerns over kidnapping-for-ransom activities that have expanded across several regions in Nigeria in recent years. Analysts warn that unless sustained counterinsurgency and crime prevention strategies are implemented, rural transportation routes may continue to face operational risks.
Stone Reporters note that the Ijagbe abduction incident reflects the broader security dilemma confronting parts of central Nigeria, where criminal gangs exploit geographic terrain and limited law enforcement presence to conduct surprise attacks on civilian targets. The safety of the abducted passengers remains uncertain as residents continue to await official updates from security authorities.
Political and security stakeholders are expected to intensify pressure on government agencies to respond decisively to the incident. Community members have appealed for swift rescue operations and urged security personnel to prioritize the safe recovery of the kidnapped passengers.
As night fell over Ijagbe, fear spread through the surrounding villages, with many residents retreating indoors amid uncertainty about possible further attacks. Transport operators were seen suspending late-evening travel schedules along the affected corridor.
The development underscores the persistent security challenges facing rural communities across central Nigeria and highlights the urgent demand for more effective protection of civilian populations traveling through vulnerable road networks.
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