A new wave of terror hit Kogi State on Saturday as armed men attacked travellers along the Isanlu Makutu–Idofin highway in Yagba East, leaving several people feared abducted.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen struck without warning in the afternoon, prompting residents and motorists in the area to run for their lives.
The exact number of victims taken during the attack had not been confirmed at the time of filing this report.
Local accounts indicated that panic had spread across neighbouring communities as many residents stayed indoors while travellers diverted to avoid the troubled route.
Security agencies were said to have been alerted, and operatives were reportedly being deployed to the scene.
READ MORE: INSECURITY: Terrorists Attack Commercial Bus on Kogi Road, Abduct Passengers
The latest incident came barely two days after twenty-one passengers were rescued following coordinated attacks on multiple vehicles across major roads in Kogi.
Two security operatives, including a soldier and a vigilante, were killed in the gunfight that accompanied the previous incident.
SaharaReporters had earlier revealed that no fewer than one hundred bandits blocked vehicles moving in different directions along the busy route around 2pm on Thursday.
Targets of that assault included a Toyota Sienna travelling from Oshogbo to Kaduna, a Toyota Hiace bus from Owo to Abuja, another Hiace heading to Ekiti, a Toyota Carina from Lokoja to Kabba, a Dangote truck transporting cement and a J5 bus conveying pepper from Kano to Lagos.
Passengers were forced to run into nearby bushes as the attackers attempted to seize occupants of the vehicles.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed that a joint force of soldiers, the Quick Response Unit, civil defence officials, vigilantes and hunters mobilised swiftly and exchanged fire with the gunmen.
The rescue operation led to the recovery of twenty-one passengers, including a nine-day-old baby.
The rescued victims were listed as Moses Oladimeji, Adele Jacob, Obed Onche, Babayemi Ajayi, Funmilayo Ajayi, Samuel Olawoyin, Samuel Job, Jemima Joseph, Nanko Joseph, Enenche Paulina and Bright Enenche.
Others included Rachael Enenche, Deborah Enenche (9 days old), Bukola Clement, Toyin Clement, Glory Clement, Faith Clement, Peter Olawale and the drivers of both the Dangote truck and the J5 bus.
Despite the rescue, the attack recorded casualties.
A soldier attached to the Oshokoshoko sector and a vigilante from the Odoape community were fatally struck during the confrontation.
Their identities had yet to be made public.
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