KIDNAPPED TRAVELLERS ESCAPE AFTER BANDITS REPORTEDLY FELL ASLEEP IN KOGI FOREST

KIDNAPPED TRAVELLERS ESCAPE AFTER BANDITS REPORTEDLY FELL ASLEEP IN KOGI FOREST

Three travellers abducted by suspected bandits along the Itobe-Ajegwu-Anyigba Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State have regained freedom after reportedly escaping from their captors inside a forest hideout.

The victims were among passengers kidnapped on Saturday when armed men attacked two commercial buses conveying travellers along the route. One of the affected buses was identified with registration number NKE 737 XA from Ebonyi State.

A motorcyclist was also reportedly abducted during the attack and taken into the forest alongside the passengers.

Residents said local vigilantes, hunters and security operatives launched a search operation shortly after the incident in an effort to rescue the victims and track down the kidnappers.

A security source disclosed that a suspect identified as Monday Agi was arrested about three hours after the abduction. According to the source, the suspect allegedly became stranded in the bush as security pressure mounted on the kidnappers.

The source said the suspect claimed during interrogation that he boarded a trailer from Ekiti State but got down near the scene before deciding to continue his journey on foot.

“He also claimed that after hearing gunshots, he ran into the bush alongside two herders he said he did not know,” the source added.

Meanwhile, three of the abducted passengers identified as Michael Adejo, Monday and Mariam Yakubu narrated how they escaped after some of the kidnappers reportedly fell asleep deep inside the forest.

The victims said the attackers, estimated to be about 10 in number, were heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and pump-action guns.

One of the escapees explained that the buses unknowingly drove into a roadblock mounted by the armed men before the passengers were forced into the bush at gunpoint.

“Immediately our bus stopped at the barricade, they ordered everybody out at gunpoint. The second bus behind us was shot at, and the driver lost control and crashed into cashew trees,” one of the victims recounted.

The victim further stated that the passengers were marched deep into the forest where the kidnappers searched them and collected money, phones and other valuables.

Another escapee, identified simply as Adaji, said they seized the opportunity to flee after noticing that some of the gunmen had fallen asleep.

“When I realised the gunmen close to where I was lying had slept off, I began to crawl slowly. After moving some distance, I stood up and started running until I reached a nearby village with two other victims,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages were not responded to.

Security operatives are reportedly continuing efforts to rescue other victims and apprehend the fleeing gunmen.