By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Passengers travelling in three vehicles, including a commercial Sienna bus, were on Monday evening abducted by gunmen along the Ejule–Alloma highway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, with injured victims abandoned at the scene.
The incident occurred at about 5pm near Government Secondary School, Alloma, as the vehicles were heading towards Enugu from their respective departure points, eyewitnesses said.
According to witnesses, the convoy ran into an ambush by armed men who opened fire on the vehicles, forcing them to stop before herding several passengers into the bush.
An eyewitness told BANNERNEWS that gunshots fired at the vehicles left some passengers with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, while others were forcefully taken away by the attackers.
He said soldiers later arrived at the scene and evacuated victims who could not be taken into the forest due to injuries or death, while security operatives commenced a search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bushes.
A security source, however, gave a clearer account, stating that at about 1700hrs on February 9, 2026, a Sienna bus, a jeep and a Honda Accord conveying passengers from Ejule to Enugu were attacked by gunmen.
The source disclosed that four passengers travelling in the Sienna bus were kidnapped, while occupants of the Honda Accord and the jeep sustained injuries and were rushed to the Comprehensive Hospital, Alloma, where they are currently receiving treatment.
“Bush combing is ongoing with the combined efforts of the Army, Police and local vigilantes,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Operation Commander of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Idah Area Command, Kassim Itodo, confirmed the rescue of one of the abducted victims, identified as Blessing Richard, from a bush around Alade settlement in the area.
The rescued woman said she was travelling from Abah to Kaduna when their vehicle was intercepted at Alloma community and the passengers were marched into the forest by the abductors.
She explained that she was abandoned after she became exhausted and fainted following hours of trekking through the forest, a claim she made in a video clip seen by BANNERNEWS.
The victim, who was first taken to Iboko settlement after her rescue, is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital in Alloma.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of filing this report.
