The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of passengers after gunmen blocked the Anyigba–Ankpa highway at Ofejiji, via Egume, on Sunday evening.
Police sources said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Egume received a distress call at about 6:00 p.m. that two vehicles had been abandoned on the road.
According to the sources , a joint security patrol team was mobilised to the scene, where officers found a Hyundai Sonata (ash colour) with Abuja registration number YAB 821 ES and a Toyota Camry (ash colour) with Kano registration number DKD 137 AA.
“The vehicles were on transit from Anyigba heading to Ankpa when hoodlums blocked the highway, fired sporadically, abducted passengers and abandoned the vehicles at Ofejiji, via Egume,” the police said.
During the initial assessment, nine empty AK-47 shells were recovered at the scene, and photographs were taken for investigation.
The DPO immediately mapped out strategies for rescue operations, including bush combing and intelligence gathering, which led to the rescue of four victims Cletus Chen, his wife Joy Cletus and two of their children who were passengers in the Toyota Camry.
The command said three other passengers remained unaccounted for.
“Statements have been obtained from the rescued victims, investigation has commenced, and bush combing and intelligence operations are ongoing with a view to rescuing the remaining victims and arresting the perpetrators,” the police added.
