Gunfire Erupts: One Dead, Six Injured as Police Foil Mass Kidnap Attempt on Fully Loaded Bus

One Dead, Six Injured as Police Foil Mass Kidnap Attempt on Fully Loaded Bus

In a swift operation on Monday, police in Kogi State foiled two kidnapping attempts along the Lokoja/Kabba road, rescuing 23 passengers from armed assailants. The incident, which took place on June 23, 2025, was confirmed in a statement released by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya.

According to the statement, operatives from the Obajana Division were on a confidence-building patrol along the Obajana–Oshokoshoko Road when they responded to sporadic gunfire. The patrol team engaged the attackers in a gunfight, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee the scene.

All passengers were rescued, but not without casualties. Six victims sustained injuries, and one passenger died while receiving medical treatment.

In a separate operation on June 21, police from the Ayingba Division arrested two suspects, Umaru Jibril and Lukman Umaru, for illegal possession of a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and suspected Indian hemp.

Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller G. Dantawaye, reiterated the command’s dedication to fighting crime across the state. He assured residents that security efforts would continue in collaboration with other agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property. The arrested suspects, he added, will face prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation.