At least three people were reportedly killed and nine others abducted after gunmen ambushed a group of traders travelling along the Ankpa-Adoka-Makurdi Federal Road in Kogi State.
The victims, mostly traders from Ajobe community in Ojoku District of Ankpa Local Government Area, were returning home from the popular Nkwo Idoko Market in Awo when the incident occurred on Friday evening.
The traders were travelling together in a pickup van along the poorly maintained federal highway when they reportedly encountered the armed assailants.
According to Yakubu Ishyaku, a relative of one of the victims, some passengers attempted to escape on foot after sighting the gunmen but were pursued and shot at.
Ishyaku said three people, including two men and a woman, were killed in the attack, while several others sustained gunshot injuries. He added that the deceased were buried on Friday in accordance with Islamic rites.
He further disclosed that nine members of the Ajobe community were abducted and taken to an unknown location. Among those kidnapped was the wife of his late elder brother.
According to Ishyaku, the kidnappers later contacted a relative of one of the victims in the nearby Okaba community on Friday evening and demanded a ransom of N20 million for each captive before terminating the call.
“They demanded N20 million for each of the victims in their custody before switching off the phone. Since then, we have not been able to reach them through that line,” he said.
Mrs Achenetu Akubo, whose sister and niece were among those abducted, appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of the captives.
Akubo said her sister, Mariam, was kidnapped alongside her daughter during the attack, with the kidnappers reportedly demanding N40 million for their release.
She expressed particular concern over Mariam’s health, saying her sister did not take her medication with her when she went to the market.
“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,” Akubo said.
The latest attack has heightened concerns over insecurity along the Ankpa-Adoka-Makurdi Federal Road, an important route linking Kogi and Benue states.
Residents and commuters have repeatedly raised concerns about the poor condition of the road and its vulnerability to attacks by armed groups. Traders and travellers continue to use the route to access markets, including Nkwo Idoko in Awo, despite recurring reports of kidnapping and banditry.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the nine abducted community members remained unknown, while efforts by their relatives to re-establish contact with the kidnappers had been unsuccessful.
No arrests have been reported in connection with the incident, and it remains unclear whether security agencies have commenced a search operation or responded to the scene.
The families of the victims are currently living in anguish as they await information on their loved ones, with growing concerns over the safety and wellbeing of those in captivity, particularly Mariam, whose family fears her health could deteriorate without access to her medication.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
