Bandit–Police Shootout Traps Travellers on Kogi Highway

Commuters were left stranded along the Oshokoshoko–Obajana highway in Kogi State on Monday after a fierce gunfight broke out between security operatives and armed bandits, forcing many travellers to abandon their vehicles and run for safety. Witnesses said the confrontation lasted for hours, plunging the already volatile route into panic.

A video shared on X showed scores of travellers huddled by the roadside, unable to proceed. The individual who recorded the clip described a chaotic scene, repeatedly appealing for urgent assistance as gunmen were said to have taken control of parts of the road.

The stretch between Oshokoshoko and Obajana has suffered a series of ambushes in recent days, heightening anxiety among residents and frequent road users. The wider security situation in Kogi continues to deteriorate, with communities counting fresh attacks almost weekly.

Just a day earlier, armed men stormed a church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting the pastor, his wife, and several worshippers. The incidents follow recent comments from Governor Ahmed Ododo, who revealed that bandit leaders had shifted their operations into the state and insisted that security forces were prepared to confront them.