SUSPECTED kidnappers have killed two persons and abducted several others during a deadly attack on Ayegunle Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the attackers, who struck in the early hours of Monday, reportedly invaded the community, opened fire on residents and blocked the highway linking the town to neighbouring communities, creating panic among motorists and locals.
Residents said the incident occurred at about 2:25 a.m., when the sound of gunfire shattered the calm of the community and sent residents fleeing for safety.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen shot and killed two residents while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack.
“The attack happened around 2:25 a.m. The sound of gunshots woke everyone up. The gunmen shot and killed two residents and injured several others,” the source said.
According to the source, the assailants also abducted two residents directly from their homes, while a number of other victims were reportedly taken from commercial vehicles that unknowingly ran into the road blockade mounted by the gunmen on the highway.
The source noted that efforts were ongoing to ascertain the exact number of persons kidnapped and obtain comprehensive details of the incident.
“Efforts are ongoing to determine the exact number of people abducted and the full details of the incident,” the source added.
Confirming the attack, the Kogi State Police Command said the armed men blocked the highway leading into and out of Ayegunle Bunu before abducting several travellers.
The command disclosed that some victims sustained injuries during the operation and assured residents that security operatives had already been deployed to the affected area to restore normalcy and track down the perpetrators.
Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, said investigations had commenced into the incident.
“We have commenced investigation into the incident,” the police commissioner stated.
Earlier, the Police Public Relations Officer, Saliu Oyiza Afusat, confirmed that the two fatalities recorded during the attack were a pastor who was killed in his residence and a passenger travelling in a vehicle intercepted by the gunmen.
The latest attack has heightened concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Kogi State, particularly along major highways where travellers and rural communities have increasingly become targets of kidnapping gangs. Security agencies are continuing efforts to rescue the abducted victims and bring the attackers to justice.