By DAYO ADESULU
Two Security Personnel Killed as Joint Forces Repel Large-Scale Assault
Focus Key Phrase: Kogi highway bandit attack
Twenty-one passengers have been rescued unharmed after heavily armed bandits launched coordinated attacks on several vehicles along key Kogi State highways on Thursday afternoon. Tragically, two security personnel lost their lives during the operation, underscoring the persistent danger posed by organized criminal groups in the region.
Bandits Target Six Vehicles in Broad-Day Assault
Eyewitness accounts revealed that nearly 100 armed bandits ambushed multiple vehicles around 2:00 p.m., targeting travellers heading to various destinations across the country. The attackers first intercepted a Toyota Sienna with registration number YAB 968 AX, which was traveling from Oshogbo to Kaduna.
They also attacked a Toyota Hiace bus tagged 7BGT-78LG, conveying passengers from Owo in Ondo State to Abuja. Another Toyota Hiace with plate number GKP 178 XA en route from Abuja to Ekiti State was also caught in the ambush.
The gunmen further descended on a Toyota Carina (JMU 648 AA) from Lokoja to Kabba, a Dangote truck transporting 900 bags of cement, and a J5 bus (FTA 313 XV) carrying bags of pepper from Kano to Lagos.
The scale and coordination of the attack left several passengers vulnerable, with the intention of mass abductions appearing clear.
Swift Joint Response Helps Prevent Mass Kidnapping
A rapid, coordinated rescue mission was triggered shortly after distress signals reached nearby security units. Troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, supported by Quick Response Units (QRU), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilantes, and community hunters, immediately mobilized to confront the bandits.
Security sources confirmed that the responding units engaged the criminals in a fierce gun duel, pushing them deeper into the forests and creating an escape corridor for the trapped passengers. Thanks to the synchronized efforts of the joint operatives, 21 passengers — including men, women and infants — were successfully rescued.
List of Rescued Passengers Released
Authorities released the names of some individuals rescued during the Kogi highway bandit attack. Those recovered include:
Moses Oladimeji
Adele Jacob
Obed Onche
Babayemi Ajayi
Funmilayo Ajayi
Samuel Olawoyin
Samuel Job
Jemima Joseph
Nanko Joseph
Enenche Paulina
Bright Enenche
Rachael Enenche
Deborah Enenche (9 days old)
Bukola Clement
Toyin Clement
Glory Clement
Faith Clement
Peter Olawale
Driver of the Dangote truck
Driver of the J5 bus
The successful extraction of both the commercial drivers and multiple families was regarded as a major victory for the security responders, especially given the scale of the assault.
Two Security Operatives Killed During the Operation
Despite the rescue success, the joint mission suffered a painful blow as two operatives were killed in the firefight. A soldier attached to the Oshokoshoko sector and a vigilante from Odoape community died after sustaining fatal gunshot wounds.
Their identities have not yet been publicly disclosed, as authorities are still in the process of notifying their families. Security commanders praised their bravery, stressing that their sacrifice played a crucial role in ensuring that dozens of innocent passengers were saved.
Hunt for Remaining Suspects Continues
While the 21 passengers have been safely rescued, security forces confirmed that search and rescue efforts are still underway to determine whether any individuals may have been taken into the forest during the chaos. Troops and local volunteers continue combing surrounding bushes in pursuit of fleeing bandits.
Residents living along the affected routes remain on high alert, as Thursday’s incident is a stark reminder of the expanding threat of large-scale bandit operations across Kogi State. Community leaders have renewed calls for sustained military presence along the highways to deter future attacks.
Coordinated Security Response Praised Despite Losses
The Kogi highway bandit attack has once again highlighted the importance of synergy among security agencies, vigilantes, and community hunters. Analysts say the swift joint operation prevented what could have been one of the worst mass abductions in recent months.
However, the death of two operatives also underscores the grave risks frontline responders face while combating increasingly emboldened criminal groups.
As rescue efforts continue, authorities have vowed to track down the perpetrators and strengthen highway security across the state.
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