No fewer than 11 persons, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members returning from their orientation camp, have been rescued after gunmen attacked travellers along a highway in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday, August 28, 2026, saying security operatives had launched a manhunt for the attackers and were continuing efforts to locate other victims reportedly taken into the bush.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 26, along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria–Onicha-Igo Junction.
According to the police, the gunmen emerged from the bush at about 4:40 p.m. and intercepted two vehicles travelling in opposite directions.
The attackers reportedly forced some of the passengers into the surrounding bush, while others managed to escape during the attack.
NYSC members among victims
The victims included corps members who had just completed their three-week orientation programme in Bayelsa State and were travelling towards Abuja and other destinations.
Reports indicate that about 15 corps members were initially feared abducted, although the police’s official statement focused on the rescue of 11 victims and did not initially provide a complete breakdown of those still missing.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of corps members travelling through parts of the country, particularly following their deployment to different states for the mandatory national service.
Police recover abandoned vehicles
Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu reportedly mobilised a joint security team to the area.
Two abandoned vehicles—a Peace Mass Transit bus and a yellow 18-seater bus—were recovered at the scene.
Security personnel subsequently commenced a bush-combing operation in an effort to track the attackers and rescue those taken hostage.
The operation resulted in the rescue of 11 victims, including the drivers of the two vehicles.
The rescued victims were reportedly debriefed by security personnel before being allowed to continue their journeys.
Manhunt for attackers, search for remaining victims
The police said security operatives had intensified efforts to locate any remaining victims and apprehend the gunmen responsible for the attack.
The command is also deploying intelligence and operational resources to comb the surrounding forests.
The latest development comes amid growing concerns about kidnapping along major highways in Kogi, with the Ofu axis witnessing several security incidents in recent months.
The police assured residents and motorists that security operations had been strengthened along the affected routes.
The command has yet to publicly disclose the identities of the rescued victims or provide a definitive update on the exact number of people still missing.