Bandits struck again in Kogi State on Thursday, launching an attack along the Osokoko–Obajana axis and targeting two commercial 18-seater buses. According to multiple local sources, one of the buses was intercepted, while the second managed to escape before the attackers could reach it.
Eyewitnesses said all passengers in the intercepted vehicle were taken away, though the exact number of abducted individuals remains unclear. The incident was confirmed by Egbe Mekun Parrot, a local news platform monitoring the situation.
Sources report that soldiers arrived shortly after the attack and engaged the armed group in an attempt to stop the assault. Their response led to the viral video making rounds online, which showed stranded travellers waiting on the highway until the road was declared safe again.
One woman in the video confirmed the clearance, saying, “Road don clear, all thanks to the Nigerian Army, everybody don dey go back.”
Security officers have not released an official briefing yet, but eyewitnesses say the military successfully pushed back the attackers, preventing further harm or loss of property.
The event has intensified fears along the Osokoko–Obajana corridor, an area that has witnessed recurring security threats. Residents and travellers are now warning motorists to avoid the route until authorities give full assurance of safety.
This attack follows another major incident in Kogi State earlier this week. On Wednesday, bandits invaded Kiri High School in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba Bunu LGA. Members of the Kiri Vigilante Group responded quickly, rescuing all abducted students. Although the operation was successful, community members confirmed that a vigilante and one resident died during the confrontation.
The attempted school abduction adds to a troubling pattern of kidnappings across Nigeria’s north-central region. Since mid-November, more than 400 people — many of them children — have been taken, drawing condemnation from both the United Nations and global religious leaders.
Kogi residents are calling for stronger, sustained security measures to protect major highways and rural communities from persistent threats.