Gunmen Kill Three, Abduct Nine on Kogi Highway

On Friday evening, gunmen attacked passengers traveling along the Ankpa–Adoka–Makurdi federal highway in Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and the abduction of nine others. The victims, primarily traders from Ajobe community in Ojoku District, were returning from Nkwo Idoko market in Awo when their pickup van was ambushed.

Some passengers attempted to flee but were shot at, leading to the immediate deaths of two men and one woman. Yakubu Ishyaku, a resident, reported that the deceased were buried according to Islamic rites the same day.

The kidnappers contacted a family member of one victim in Okaba community, demanding a ransom of N20 million for each abducted person before disconnecting the call. Since then, communication with the kidnappers has ceased.