Kogi Forest Kidnap: Passengers Break Free as Abductors Fall Asleep

A daring escape has been reported in Kogi State, where some passengers who were kidnapped along the Itobe-Ajegwu-Anyigba road in Ofu Local Government Area have managed to break free from their captors. The incident occurred on Saturday, May 23, 2026, when two buses, one with the registration number Ebonyi NKE 737 XA, were attacked by armed men. A motorcycle rider was also forcefully taken away by the kidnappers. According to eyewitnesses, the kidnappers, who were armed with AK 47 and Pump Action rifles, had set up a barricade on the road, which the buses ran into. The passengers were then ordered to lie face down and were robbed of their valuables, including money and mobile phones. However, in a surprising turn of events, three of the kidnapped passengers, identified as Micheal Adejo, Monday, and Mariam Yakubu, were able to escape from their abductors when they fell asleep in the forest. The escapees reported that they were able to crawl out of their captors' camp and ran until they reached a nearby village. The police have since arrested a suspect, Monday Agi, in connection with the incident, who claimed to have been a passenger on a trailer from Ekiti State and had decided to alight and continue his journey on foot. The suspect allegedly lost his way and was caught by security operatives who were trailing the kidnappers. The police are currently intensifying their search for the remaining kidnappers.