At least three persons have been killed while nine others were abducted after gunmen attacked passengers travelling along the Ankpa–Adoka–Makurdi federal highway in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State on Friday evening.
The victims, predominantly traders from Ajobe community in Ojoku District, were reportedly returning from the popular Nkwo Idoko market in Awo when their vehicle encountered the armed assailants.
The passengers were travelling in a pickup van when the gunmen reportedly launched the attack.
Some of those in the vehicle jumped out and attempted to escape into the surrounding area.
However, the attackers allegedly opened fire on the fleeing passengers, killing three people instantly and injuring several others.
A resident, Yakubu Ishyaku, said nine members of Ajobe community were also taken away by the gunmen. Among those abducted, he said, was the wife of his late elder brother.
According to Ishyaku, the three victims killed in the attack—two men and a woman—were buried in accordance with Islamic rites on Friday.
He further disclosed that the kidnappers contacted a family member of one of the victims in the neighbouring Okaba community on Friday evening.
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The abductors allegedly demanded a ransom of N20 million for each of the kidnapped victims before abruptly switching off the phone used to make the call.
“Since then we have not been able to reach them through that line,” Ishyaku said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Achenetu Akubo, whose sister was among those abducted, appealed to the kidnappers to release the victims unharmed.
Akubo said her sister, Mariam, was kidnapped alongside her daughter during the attack, adding that the abductors demanded N40 million for their release.
She expressed concern over Mariam’s health, saying she was undergoing treatment and had gone to the market without her medication.
“My sister did not go to the market with her drugs and we fear that her condition will get worse if she is not released on time,” she said.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation along the Ankpa–Adoka–Makurdi road, which has continued to pose challenges to motorists and residents.
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