Armed men suspected to be bandits have abducted six passengers and shot a commercial bus driver during an attack in Ijagbe area of Mopamuro Local Government Area in Kogi State.
The incident took place on Friday evening along the Ijowa to Ijagbe road when the attackers reportedly came out from a nearby bush and began shooting at a vehicle passing through the route. Witnesses said the armed men stopped the vehicle and fired at the driver at close range. During the attack, passengers attempted to escape, but the gunmen seized six of them and fled into the surrounding bush.
According to an eyewitness who spoke through a local community platform known as Egbe Mekun Parrot, the abducted victims include five men and one woman.
“The gunmen came out suddenly from the bush and started shooting. The driver was hit and the passengers began running in different directions. Six of them were taken away into the bush,” the witness said. The injured driver was later rushed to a hospital for medical treatment. As of the time of reporting, his condition was said to be serious.
Security authorities had not released an official statement on the attack, but residents said the incident has caused fear among communities in Mopamuro and nearby towns. The abduction is the latest in a series of violent incidents reported in the western part of Kogi State. Communities in Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West have recorded repeated cases of kidnappings and attacks on travellers in recent months.
Residents say several roads in the region have become risky for commuters due to limited security patrols and the presence of thick forests where criminal groups hide. Traditional rulers and community leaders in the Yagba axis have also raised concerns in recent weeks about the increase in abductions along rural roads. They have called on security agencies to strengthen patrol operations in the area.
Western Kogi shares boundaries with Kwara, Ekiti and Ondo states, and security observers believe the network of forest routes across these borders has made it easier for armed groups to move between states after carrying out attacks.
Residents of Mopamuro say the Ijowa to Ijagbe road has become one of the most dangerous routes in the area due to its isolated sections and low security presence. A community member said the attack has left many people worried about their safety while travelling.
“Our people are living in fear. This road has become very dangerous and something needs to be done to protect travellers,” the resident said.
