Police foil abduction of passengers in Kogi, arrest other criminal suspects
Lokoja
The Nigeria Police said it has foiled abduction of passengers along Obajana – Oshokoshoko road in Lokoja council area of Kogi State.
Kogi Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Williams Aya who made this known on Tuesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja however said one of the victims died during the encounter.
The statement also reeled out the achievement of the command in the past one week.
“As part of sustained efforts to rid Kogi State of all forms of crime and criminality, on 22nd June, 2025 operatives of the Kogi State Police Command attached to Okene Division, while on routine stop-and-search duty, intercepted a Nissan vehicle (Ash colour) with registration number LGT 893 AA, Plateau, heading towards the Auchi axis with five passengers.
“During the search, all passengers were asked to alight from the vehicle. However, one of the passengers took to his heels and was given a hot chase but unfortunately escaped through a nearby thick forest. A search of the fleeing suspect’s bag led to the recovery of the following items:
“One (1) SMG Rifle with breach number 5197, One (1) magazine, Twenty-eight (28) live ammunition of 5.6mm, One (1) live G3 ammunition, One (1) black T-shirt, Three (3) phone chargers, One (1) Oraimo power bank, Charms, and One (1) pair of sandals. Efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
“In another development, on 21st June, 2025 operatives attached to Ayingba Division arrested two suspects, Umaru Jibril and Lukman Umaru for being in possession of a locally made pistol, two (2) live cartridges, and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.
“Furthermore, on 23rd June 2025, the Operatives attached to Obajana Division, while on a confidence building patrol along Obajana– Oshokoshoko road, foiled an attempted abduction of passengers who were attacked by armed hoodlums.
“The hoodlums had ambushed: One J5 vehicle with registration number LSD 572 XJ driven by Suleiman Sani with his motor boy, en route from Zaria to Ekiti, one Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KPA 93 LG, driven by Adeleke Ifelaja, traveling from Abuja to Lagos with ten (10) passengers, one Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GWA 663 XD, driven by Dare Oloyede, also traveling from Abuja to Lagos with thirteen (13) passengers
“The patrol team responded promptly to the sporadic gunfire heard in the area and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. Upon sighting the police, the hoodlums opened fire but were repelled, which forced them to abandon their victims and fled.
“All the passengers were successfully rescued. Unfortunately, six (6) victims sustained injuries, and one (1) died while receiving treatment.”
The statement reassured Kogites of the command’s commitment in synergizing with other Security Agencies in ensuring the safety of lives and property in the State.
End
