At least 11 passengers have been rescued after gunmen abducted travellers along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Preliminary reports indicate that some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were among the passengers abducted during the attack.
The Kogi State Police Command said the incident occurred around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, where armed hoodlums emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.
The attackers subsequently abducted some of the passengers before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
A joint security team led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu responded to a distress call and recovered the two abandoned vehicles at the scene.
In a statement the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Afusat, said a coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation led to the recovery of 11 victims, including the drivers of the two buses.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that most of those rescued are members of the National Youth Service Corps travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” the statement said.
The rescued victims were debriefed by security operatives and subsequently allowed to continue their journey.
The police said security personnel were still combing the surrounding forest in an effort to rescue any remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.
The Command added that it was deploying operational and intelligence resources to secure the area and ensure the safe recovery of those still in captivity.
