The Nigeria Police command in Kogi State, has confirmed the killing of five persons and the abduction of several others following a violent attack on a commercial passenger bus along the Oshokoshoko/Agbede highway, close to a military checkpoint in the state.
Zagazola Makama, a security expert who disclosed this, said the incident took place at about 12:10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, when heavily armed gunmen barricaded the highway and opened fire on vehicles plying the route.
He said that one of the vehicles trapped in the ambush was an 18-seater Toyota commercial bus with Jigawa State registration number HJA 687 YD, that was travelling from Abuja to Ilesha.
A security source said; “The bus was reportedly riddled with bullets during the attack. Five unidentified corpses with gunshot injuries were recovered at the scene”.
The sources also said that one of the passengers, Naziru Aliyu, was rescued with gunshot wounds and immediately taken to Fisayo Hospital for medical treatment while the bodies of the deceased victims were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary in Lokoja.
Following the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obajana swiftly mobilised joint security operatives to the area to conduct assessment and initiate rescue operations.
The bush-combing and intelligence-driven efforts led to the rescue of 14 passengers that 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.
It was further gathered that some of the rescued passengers who sustained gunshot injuries are presently receiving treatment at Fisayo Hospital.
However, the Police said that about four passengers from the bus are still unaccounted for, adding that investigations into the attack have commenced.
The police further said that efforts to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators are being intensified and assured the residents and road users of its determination to restore safety along the highway and ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
