Tension and fear gripped communities along the Ogbe–Egbe road in Kogi State on Friday, December 26, 2025, after armed bandits ambushed a group of residents travelling to a wedding ceremony, leaving one person injured and abducting five others.
The victims were reportedly making their way from Ogbe to Egbe, a neighbouring community, to attend a wedding of an Ogbe indigene based in Egbe when the attack occurred.
According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports from local sources, the assailants struck at the boundary between Ogbe and Koro, firing shots at the travellers and forcing them off the road.
One member of the group was hit by gunfire during the assault and was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment.
At the same time, five other wedding guests were seized by the armed men and taken into the surrounding bushland, leaving their family members and fellow travellers in shock and desperation.
Residents who spoke with journalists described a scene of panic, with travellers and passersby fleeing for safety as the gunmen carried out their operation. Many people have expressed deep concern about the persistent insecurity on rural highways across Kogi State, particularly on less-patrolled roads linking small towns and villages.
The attack has intensified longstanding complaints from locals about the vulnerability of travellers on rural routes. Community leaders and residents are now calling on both state and federal security agencies to bolster patrols and preventive measures along the Ogbe–Egbe corridor and other high-risk areas.
One resident, who declined to be named for safety reasons, said:
“We were happy because it was a time for celebration, but now there is fear everywhere. People are scared to travel, especially at night. Government needs to do something.”
This latest abduction adds to a troubling pattern of banditry and kidnappings across Kogi and neighbouring states. In recent weeks and months, security forces have reported multiple violent incidents, including attacks on worshippers, travellers, and residents in rural communities.
These incidents underscore the growing challenge of securing remote highways, where gunmen often strike with little warning and retreat into thick bush after carrying out their raids. Local security experts say the terrain and limited policing resources make it difficult to maintain a constant presence.
At the time of reporting, neither the Kogi State Government nor the Kogi State Police Command had issued an official statement on the incident, nor confirmed details about any rescue efforts or investigations underway.
Family members of the abducted have appealed for swift action, urging authorities to locate and free the victims safely. Meanwhile, the injured victim remains under medical care, with details of their condition yet to be disclosed.
