Gunmen Abduct Nine Passengers on Kogi–Kwara Highway, Including Clerics and Trader
By Queen Madaki, The Bureau News
Updated: October 25, 2025 — WAT
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted at least nine passengers travelling from Isanlu Makutu in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State to Ilorin, Kwara State, heightening security concerns along the troubled Kogi–Kwara border route.
According to reports obtained by SaharaReporters, the victims were kidnapped on Saturday when the assailants ambushed their vehicle between Egbe and Eruku, a border community connecting both states.
Passengers Ambushed and Taken into Forest
Eyewitnesses said the victims’ vehicle was intercepted by heavily armed men who fired multiple shots to force it to a halt. The attackers then abducted the passengers and whisked them into the surrounding forest.
Among those reportedly kidnapped are Prophet and Prophetess Michaels and Mrs. Iyabode Asubiojo. The identities of other victims have not yet been confirmed.
A source familiar with the incident said: “The gunmen appeared from the bush, shooting continuously until the driver stopped. They then ordered everyone out and marched them into the forest.”
Ongoing Insecurity on Kogi–Kwara Corridor
The abduction adds to the growing list of kidnapping cases along the Ilorin–Egbe highway, a route notorious for attacks by armed gangs targeting both commercial and private travellers.
Earlier reports by SaharaReporters indicated that a similar ambush occurred along the same corridor when bandits opened fire on a commercial bus, injuring the driver and forcing passengers to flee into the bush.
Video evidence from that incident showed bullet holes riddling the vehicle, with visible bloodstains on the driver’s side, confirming he had been shot during the attack.
Residents Demand Urgent Government Action
Residents of Yagba East and Yagba West have called on local authorities to urgently collaborate and take decisive steps to end the persistent wave of abductions and armed assaults across the Kogi–Kwara boundary communities.
“The situation is becoming unbearable,” one community leader said. “Our people can’t travel safely anymore. The government must act now before it gets worse.”
As of the time of filing this report, police and local vigilante groups were said to be conducting search operations in the area to locate the abducted passengers.
📊 Related Hub: Visit The Bureau News Food Price Hub
For verified updates on national issues, market trends, and community news, visit The Bureau News Food Price Hub.
