T+rrorists on Saturday launched a fresh att@ck along the Isanlu Makutu–Idofin highway in Yagba East LGA, Kogi State, throwing residents and travellers into panic. Eyewitnesses said the g¥nmen struck suddenly in the afternoon, forcing people to flee.
The number of abd¥cted victims remains unknown as details are still sketchy. Communities around the area have reportedly gone into lockdown, while travellers divert routes to avoid the troubled road. Security agencies have been alerted and were mobilising to the scene.
The incident follows an earlier att@ck in Kogi in which 21 passengers including women and a nine-day-old baby were rescued after b+ndits ambushed multiple vehicles. A soldier and a vigilante d+ed in the exchange of g¥nfire.
During that att@ck, about 100 armed men targeted several vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna from Oshogbo to Kaduna, two Toyota Hiace buses heading to Abuja and Ekiti, a Toyota Carina bound for Kabba, a Dangote truck carrying cement, and a J5 bus loaded with pepper. Passengers fled into nearby bushes as the att@ckers attempted mass abd¥ctions.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed that a joint team of the Nigerian Army, Quick Response Unit, NSCDC, vigilantes and hunters responded swiftly and rescued 21 passengers. Those freed include Moses Oladimeji, Adele Jacob, Obed Onche, Babayemi Ajayi, Funmilayo Ajayi, Samuel Olawoyin, Samuel Job, Jemima Joseph, Nanko Joseph, Enenche Paulina, Bright Enenche, Rachael Enenche, nine-day-old Deborah Enenche, Bukola Clement, Toyin Clement, Glory Clement, Faith Clement, Peter Olawale, and the drivers of the Dangote truck and J5 bus.
The soldier from the Oshokoshoko sector and the vigilante from Odoape who were k+lled during the operation have yet to be identified.
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