Kogi Kidnapping: Police and Army Rescue Bus Passengers

By: Abudu Olalekan

You know that feeling. You’re on a bus, just trying to get from one place to another. Maybe you’re tired, maybe you’re excited to see family, maybe you’re just staring out the window, watching the world go by. It’s supposed to be a regular trip. A quick journey from Abuja down to Benin in Edo State. A simple Friday afternoon on the road. What could go wrong, right?

Then things got ugly. Real ugly.

That’s exactly what happened to twelve passengers on a Big Joe Ventures bus. They were minding their own business, a Toyota Hiace, a vehicle with the license plate reading Edo FUG 13 XY, when the road changed. A peaceful highway near Okene, in Kogi State, suddenly became a nightmare. Bandits, kidnappers, whatever you wanna call them, they ambushed the bus. Just stopped it right there. And they took everyone. All twelve occupants. Gone. Just like that.

The news hit the authorities fast. Word of the attack spread, a chilling whisper through the command centre. But this time, something was different. The police, they didn’t waste a second. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, was on it. He later confirmed the whole mess in a statement issued late Friday evening. It was a terrifying situation. A whole busload of people, just vanished.

But here’s where the good news comes in. C’mon. It’s what you need to hear. The DPO of Okene Division, a guy named CSP Nasir Muhammad, he didn’t just sit back. He got a team together. And not just any team. It was the police, the military, and even some local vigilantes. They came together, a true joint force, and they went right after the kidnappers. A pursuit. A real life chase.

It was a risky move, for sure. You never know what’s waiting out there in the bush. But it worked. Because of their fast thinking and bravery, they managed to rescue eight of the victims. Eight people. Eight lives. Saved. They got the driver too, which is a big relief. Imagine being the one responsible, the one driving the bus when it happened. You’d be feeling some kind of way, wouldn’t you?

Reportersroom understands the police and army are still on the job. The fight isn’t over. Not even close. Four people are still out there, being held by these criminals. The hunt continues. They’re searching through the woods, checking every possible hideout, trying to bring the remaining hostages home safe. It’s a nail-biting wait for their families, for everyone who knows them.

This stuff, it’s a terrifying new normal. It happens all the time on our highways. Just a few weeks ago, Reportersroom wrote about another incident, where troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, along with some hybrid forces and vigilantes, rescued seventeen kidnapped victims. That included thirteen adults and four little kids. It was a massive operation. The statement confirming that rescue was issued by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the acting assistant director of Army Public Relations.

See? It’s a constant battle. This is the reality. It’s not just a story you read in the newspaper. It’s people’s lives. It’s the fear they live with, every time they get on a bus. The hope they cling to, every minute they’re held captive. And the immense relief, when they’re finally safe.

So while it’s a win, rescuing eight people is a huge deal, it’s also a bittersweet one. Until everyone is home safe, the work is far from done. The criminals are still out there, and four innocent people are still in their hands. This isn’t just a headline. It’s a wake-up call for everyone. We gotta keep pushing. We have to make these roads safe again.