Gunmen on Friday evening shot a commercial bus driver and abducted six passengers during an attack in Ijagbe, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident occurred along the Ijowa–Ijagbe axis when armed men reportedly emerged from a nearby bush and opened fire on a moving commercial vehicle.
An eyewitness, who spoke through a local community platform, Egbe Mekun Parrot, said the attackers shot the driver at close range before seizing six passengers — five men and one woman.
“The gunmen suddenly came out from the bush and started shooting. The driver was hit, and passengers tried to flee. They captured six of them and disappeared back into the bush,” the source said.
The injured driver was rushed to a hospital, where he was said to be receiving treatment. His condition was reported to be critical as of the time of filing this report.
Security agencies had yet to release an official statement on the incident. However, residents said the attack has heightened tension across communities in Mopamuro and neighbouring areas.
The abduction is the latest in a series of violent incidents recorded in western Kogi, particularly in Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas, where kidnappings and highway attacks have increased in recent months.
Communities within the Yagba axis have recently witnessed repeated abductions targeting commuters and residents, prompting traditional rulers and community leaders to call for intensified security patrols along rural roads and forest corridors suspected to serve as hideouts for criminal groups.
The western senatorial district of Kogi, which borders Kwara, Ekiti and Ondo states, has faced mounting security challenges, with armed groups reportedly exploiting porous inter-state routes and dense forest areas to carry out attacks and retreat.
Residents of Mopamuro described the Ijowa–Ijagbe road as particularly vulnerable due to its isolated stretches and limited security presence.
“This is not the first time we are experiencing this kind of attack. Our people are living in fear,” a community member said, urging the state government and security operatives to strengthen surveillance and patrols in the area.
