By Palang Paul,The Nigeria Times
Security agencies in Kogi State have rescued eight passengers kidnapped along the Okene–Auchi highway, in what officials described as a major breakthrough in the fight against criminal gangs terrorising the state.
The victims, part of 12 travelers abducted on Friday, included young lawyer Onyesom Peace Udoka and her sister, who were returning from a Call-to-Bar ceremony in Abuja. Gunmen dressed in military camouflage had intercepted their vehicle in Okene Local Government Area, forcing passengers into the surrounding bush.
A joint operation by the Nigeria Police Force and the Army tracked the kidnappers’ trail and freed eight hostages in the early hours of Sunday. Four other victims remain in captivity, with security officials insisting that rescue efforts are “in top gear.”
The Nigerian Bar Association swiftly condemned the abduction, calling it “unacceptable and utterly condemnable.” Its president urged the federal government to act without delay to secure the release of Udoka, her sister, and the remaining captives.
The incident has once again raised alarm about the state of highway security in Kogi, a key transit corridor in Nigeria’s central region. In response, police patrols and military checkpoints have been reinforced along the Okene–Lokoja axis, with officials promising sustained pressure on criminal groups.
Though no new large-scale attacks were reported in the past 24 hours, the sense of insecurity across Kogi remains palpable. On September 21, gunmen ambushed police checkpoints in Isanlu, Yagba East, and Kupa in Lokoja LGA, killing five officers. Earlier on September 10, three policemen were killed in Egbe, near the Kwara border. These repeated assaults on security personnel have shaken confidence, particularly in western Kogi. In Okunran, Yagba West, residents fled their homes last week after successive bandit raids left the community nearly deserted.
Local leaders have warned that the violence poses a threat to the region’s stability. “The attacks are an assault on the peace and security of our land,” said Dr. Joshua Dare, Executive Chairman of Yagba East, who vowed that “the enemies of peace must be defeated.”
Governor Usman Ododo has also directed security agencies to flush out criminal elements, stressing that Kogi “will never submit to acts of terror.” Authorities say military reinforcements and police patrols are already on the ground, while surveillance drones are being deployed to track movements in forest hideouts.
For now, the state has been spared fresh bloodshed, but tensions remain high. Residents have been urged to remain calm yet vigilant, as security agencies continue with highway patrols and intelligence-driven raids. Officials maintain that these measures will help restore confidence and keep Kogi “peaceful, safe, and secure” in the coming days.
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