….Several Persons Feared Abducted
Terrorists on Saturday afternoon launched a fresh attack along the Isanlu Makutu–Idofin highway in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, leaving several travellers feared abducted.
Eyewitnesses told Newsmen that the gunmen emerged from the bush and opened fire sporadically, forcing motorists and residents to flee in different directions for safety.
The exact number of abducted victims remained unclear at the time of filing this report, as the situation was still developing.
Local sources said the attack has thrown nearby communities into panic, with many residents locking themselves indoors while travellers diverted to alternative routes to avoid the volatile corridor.
Security agencies were immediately alerted, and operatives were said to be mobilising towards the area.
Saturday’s assault comes barely 48 hours after bandits carried out coordinated attacks along other major highways in Kogi State, during which 21 passengers — including women and a nine-day-old infant — were rescued by a joint security team. Two security operatives, a soldier and a vigilante, were killed in that operation.
During the earlier incident, no fewer than 100 heavily armed bandits reportedly blocked multiple roads around 2pm, targeting several vehicles including a Toyota Sienna travelling from Osogbo to Kaduna; two Toyota Hiace buses heading to Abuja and Ekiti; a Toyota Carina from Lokoja to Kabba; a Dangote truck transporting 900 bags of cement; and a J5 bus conveying pepper from Kano to Lagos.
Passengers were forced to abandon their vehicles and run into the bush as the attackers attempted to seize occupants.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed that troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, operatives of the Quick Response Unit, NSCDC, local vigilantes and hunters jointly repelled the bandits and rescued the trapped passengers.
Authorities say enforcement operations along major routes have since been intensified, though residents express fear that the criminals continue to regroup and launch fresh assaults.
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