Suspected kidnappers have attacked three commercial buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting an unspecified number of passengers.
The attacks reportedly occurred at two locations along the highway on Sunday, August 9, within a two-hour interval.
According to local sources, the first incident occurred at about 4pm when a Hummer bus operated by Peace Mass Transit was intercepted between Ojuwo-Ajengo and Mamerebo settlement while travelling from the eastern part of the country to Abuja.
The second attack occurred around 6pm between Ojodu and Ojuwo-Olijo village, where a Sharon and a Sienna commercial bus were reportedly ambushed while travelling on an interstate route.
Witnesses said the attackers mounted barricades on the highway, forcing the vehicles to stop before taking the occupants into the bush.
A source familiar with the incident said two mobile phones were found in the grass near one of the buses and later handed over to security operatives.
The source identified the Peace Mass Transit bus by fleet number 2838. The other two buses reportedly had registration numbers Kogi ERE 138 AE and BB 362 MKA.
The exact number of passengers abducted from the three buses could not be immediately established.
A local security source said the number of victims would have to be confirmed through the passenger manifests of the affected vehicles.
Following the attacks, a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, police, local vigilantes and hunters was reportedly launched in the area.
The operation is aimed at locating the abducted passengers and tracking down the attackers.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said she would confirm the incident and respond.
However, she had not provided further details as of the time of filing this report.
