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Travellers Cry Out as Bandits Block Kogi Highway in Shocking Attack (Video)

Travellers Cry Out as Bandits Block Kogi Highway in Shocking Attack (Video)

In a fresh wave of insecurity, suspected bandits have reportedly seized control of a major highway in Kogi State, leaving many travellers stranded and sparking panic among motorists and residents.

The incident underscores the deepening security crisis along critical travel routes in the region. IntelRegion

According to eyewitness testimonies, armed men set up a roadblock along the Isanlu–Makutu–Idofin road in the state’s Yagba East Local Government Area on Saturday.

Vehicles travelling on the route were reportedly intercepted, with occupants dragged into surrounding forests. One resident, who pleaded anonymity, claimed

“about three cars ran into the ambush, and all the occupants except one were taken.”

As chaos spread, commuters were left stranded on the roadside for hours, unable to move until security forces intervened.

Security Response and Rescue Efforts

Confirmation of the attack came from authorities, with the spokesman for the Kogi State Police Command, CSP William Ovye Aya, acknowledging that a vehicle travelling along the Idofin–Isanlu axis was attacked.

He noted that one passenger escaped while two were abducted, and that tactical units including the Quick Response Unit (QRU), Anti-Kidnapping Squad, and Police Mobile Force (PMF) have been deployed.

A credible military source further told local media that in a coordinated operation around the Isanlu–Egbe area on 29 November 2025, troops from the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army successfully rescued five of the kidnapped victims.

A Pattern of Danger on Kogi Roads

This latest ambush along the Isanlu–Makutu–Idofin road comes on the heels of a spate of similar attacks across Kogi highways.

Just days earlier, joint security forces rescued 21 passengers from multiple vehicles targeted in a coordinated bandit attack along the Kabba–Obajana corridor, although two security operatives (a soldier and a vigilante) died in the ensuing gun battle.

Also of note is a recent brazen attack along the Osokoko–Obajana road where an 18-seater commercial bus was reportedly intercepted and passengers abducted.

These incidents reflect a disturbing trend of increasing audacity by gunmen, many of whom ambush vehicles in broad daylight.

Impact on Travellers and Communities

The spate of kidnappings and highway takeovers has sown fear among everyday commuters and communities dependent on those roads.

Many travellers now travel at limited times or avoid high-risk routes altogether. The fear is not only of abduction but also of being caught in crossfire as security forces respond to ambushes.

With each new attack, demands grow louder for stronger security presence and better intelligence-led patrols along vulnerable highways across Kogi.

Local residents and commuters are demanding prompt and sustained intervention not just reactive rescue operations, but proactive measures to prevent future ambushes.

As one uneasy resident put it, “No one can travel with peace of mind again on that highway.”

As the hunt continues for the abductees and their assailants, the recent spate of attacks along major routes in Kogi signals that the state’s struggle with highway banditry is far from over.

Until security is assured, many travellers will remain stranded and vulnerable.