Suspected kidnappers have abducted an unspecified number of passengers travelling in three commercial buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incidents, according to local sources, occurred in two separate attacks within a two-hour interval on Sunday at locations believed to be close to each other along the highway.

The first attack reportedly occurred at about 4 pm between Ojuwo-Ajengo and Mamerebo settlements, when a Hummer bus belonging to a popular mass transit company, said to be travelling to Abuja from the eastern part of the country, was intercepted by the gunmen.

The second incident took place around 6 pm between Ojodu and Ojuwo-Olijo village, where a Sharon bus and a Sienna commercial vehicle, both reportedly on inter-state journeys, were attacked.

Sources said the gunmen barricaded the highway, forcing the vehicles to stop before ordering the occupants into the surrounding bush.

A local source said two mobile phones were recovered from the grass around one of the vehicles and subsequently handed over to security operatives.

The source said the first bus, identified as a Hummer belonging to Peace Mass Transit with fleet number 2838, was intercepted around 4 pm.

The two other vehicles, identified as a Sharon and a Sienna with registration numbers Kogi ERE 138 AE and BB 362 MKA, respectively, were reportedly ambushed around 6 pm.

“The armed men left with all the occupants of the three buses. The exact number of people abducted from each vehicle is not yet known and may only be established through the passengers’ manifests,” another source said.

Following the attacks, a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, police, local vigilantes and hunters was reportedly deployed to the area to search for the victims and track down the perpetrators.

When contacted for confirmation, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said she would confirm the incident and respond.