Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted 12 passengers travelling in a Toyota Hiace bus along the Okene-Auchi road in Kogi State.

The incident, which occurred around noon on Thursday, targeted commuters heading from Abuja to Benin, Edo State. According to community sources, among those kidnapped were newly-called-to-bar lawyers returning home after attending their ceremony in Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said the armed men ambushed the bus, forced it to a halt, and marched all passengers into the nearby forest before security operatives arrived.

Security agencies—including police officers, soldiers, and vigilantes—later stormed the area in a rescue operation.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command, SP William Aya, said that the vehicle involved was a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd, with registration number Edo FUG 13 XY.

Aya revealed that while all 12 passengers were initially abducted, a swift counter-operation led by the Divisional Police Officer of Okene, CSP Nasir Muhammad, resulted in the rescue of eight victims, including the driver.

“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining four victims and to arrest the perpetrators,” Aya stated.