December 16, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
Suspected terrorist ambushed travellers along the Egbe–Ogbe Road in Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State on Tuesday morning, abducting two commuters and shooting a third who was attempting to escape, security sources told DalenaReporters.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen blocked the busy Egbe–Ogbe route, forcing vehicles to stop before seizing two travellers and forcing them into nearby bush paths. One victim — shot while trying to flee the ambush managed to escape and is currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby facility.
One of the abducted individuals has been identified as Mabe, a native of Egbe, though the identity of the second victim has not yet been confirmed.
Residents described the attack as yet another stark reminder of the worsening security situation along major routes in Kogi State, where armed groups have increasingly exploited poor road patrols and limited security presence to carry out kidnappings, robberies, and other violent crimes.
The Egbe–Ogbe axis has in recent months become notorious for such incidents, with locals warning that rural highways connecting communities are operating at the mercy of criminal elements who retreat into dense forests with relative impunity. Analysts say the broader security challenge in the region mirrors a pattern of banditry and kidnappings documented across several North-Central states.
No official statement had been issued by the Kogi State Police Command or state government at the time of filing, and no ransom demand had yet been made public. Families and community leaders are calling for urgent deployment of security forces and intelligence-led patrols to prevent further attacks and secure the release of the abducted travellers.