Gunmen kill five, abduct passengers in attack on Abuja–Ilesha bus in Kogi

By: Zagazola Makama

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that five persons were killed and several others abducted in a deadly attack on a commercial bus along the Oshokoshoko/Agbede Highway near a military checkpoint in the state.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, when heavily armed hoodlums blocked the highway and opened fire on vehicles in transit.

According to the source, an 18-seater Toyota bus with Jigawa State registration number HJA 687 YD, conveying passengers from Abuja to Ilesha, was riddled with bullets during the attack.

“Five unidentified corpses with gunshot injuries were recovered at the scene,” the source said.

The sources added that one of the passengers, identified as Naziru Aliyu, was rescued with gunshot wounds and rushed to Fisayo Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary in Lokoja.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obajana was said to have mobilised joint security teams to the area for assessment and rescue operations.

Further bush-combing and intelligence-led operations later led to the rescue of 14 additional passengers. They were 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 victims sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at Fisayo Hospital.

The police said about four passengers from the bus are still unaccounted for.

The sources Investigation has commenced, while strategies for further rescue operations and the arrest of the perpetrators are being intensified.

The command assured residents and road users of its commitment to restore safety along the highway and bring the attackers to justice.