Kogi bus attack: 4 kidnapped victims rescued

On Wednesday, 5th August 2026, armed individuals attacked a commercial bus traveling along the Okene–Auchi Federal Highway in Kogi State, Nigeria. The assailants killed the bus driver and kidnapped several passengers. The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, announced on Sunday that a joint security operation had rescued four of the abducted individuals from the Olleh Community.

Police authorities disclosed that ongoing bush-combing and intelligence-driven operations were underway to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators. Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police ordered the deployment of tactical teams, in partnership with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, other security agencies, and local vigilantes, to intensify search and rescue efforts.

ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Command, revealed that the operation involved personnel from various police divisions, including the Okene Area Command, 77 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Okene Division, Adavi Division, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit, and Nigerian Army detachments. The police command also received operational support from the Edo State Police Command, including its Anti-Kidnapping Unit and tactical personnel.

Security personnel conducted coordinated clearance operations and intelligence-driven patrols in forest locations linked to the incident to prevent the criminals from escaping. The operation continued into Saturday, 8 August 2026, with tactical teams advancing towards specific locations along the Ajaokuta and Adoko axes. The Kogi State Command assured the public that the operation would persist until all remaining victims were rescued and the responsible individuals were brought to justice.