₦airaland Forum

Terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, have reportedly kidnapped the elder brother of the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area in Kogi State, Mr. Tosin Oluokun.

The abduction occurred earlier on Monday while the victim was working on his farm within Yagba West LGA.

Details surrounding the incident remain sketchy as of press time, but local sources confirmed that the attackers stormed the farm and whisked him away to an unknown location.

This latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in the area, as residents continue to grapple with recurring cases of banditry and kidnappings, particularly targeting farmers.

SaharaReporters on Sunday reported that no fewer than 20 worshippers were abducted on Sunday after gunmen attacked the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Local sources had said the attackers stormed the church while a worship session was ongoing, firing sporadically to create panic among congregants.

Many worshippers reportedly fled the scene, while an undisclosed number were seized by the assailants, who later escaped through nearby bush paths.

The attack threw the otherwise quiet community into chaos, with residents describing widespread fear and confusion as the incident unfolded.

The abduction has heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kogi State, where repeated attacks on rural communities and places of worship have left residents increasingly anxious and calling for stronger security measures.

Fear Grips Commuters As Bandits Abduct, Rob Travellers On Ilorin–Ogbomoso Highway

Fear has gripped commuters along the Oyo–Kwara border as armed criminals take over the Ilorin–Ogbomoso highway, targeting travellers for abduction and robbery.

Residents and commercial drivers who spoke to SaharaReporters said the highway, which links Kwara State to Oyo State and serves as a critical corridor for trade and passenger movement, has become a zone of terror.

“Armed gunmen frequently target vehicles along this route,” a driver at Okolowo Garage in Ilorin told SaharaReporters.

“They stop vehicles at gunpoint, rob passengers, and sometimes kidnap them for ransom. It has become dangerous to travel here at night,” he added.

A resident, who personally witnessed the dangers over the weekend, said: “What I witnessed when I was coming from Lagos to Kwara is very worrisome.”

He added: “Last Friday, I went to Lagos to buy goods for my business and I boarded an evening bus back to Ilorin. Immediately we reached Ogbomoso, we saw these gunmen attacking on the road, Ilorin-Ogbomosho Road.

“We were fortunate enough to hear about the attack before we reached the spot. So we were forced to park at a filling station and sleep inside the car.”

According to him, criminal gangs have grown bold because of the near absence of security patrols, especially during the early hours of the morning.

During a visit to Okolowo Garage on Sunday, SaharaReporters spoke with several drivers who regularly ply the Ilorin–Ogbomoso route.

They shared harrowing experiences that illustrate how the attacks have disrupted transport operations.

One driver said, “No driver dares to use this road between midnight and 5 AM without risking their life and the safety of their passengers. Many of us now plan our trips so we arrive in Ogbomoso before nightfall.”

He added that armed men often emerge from bushes along poorly lit sections of the highway, stopping vehicles to demand money and valuables.

Another driver, who has operated on the route for over a decade, described the growing fear among transport operators, saying, “We used to make two trips at night, but now we don’t dare.

“I lost two passengers last month to kidnappers on this road. Ever since, I have been telling my drivers not to travel after 10 PM.”

A third driver explained that drivers now adopt safety strategies to avoid becoming victims.

“Some of us stop and sleep in Ogbomoso, even if it delays the trip. It’s better to lose time than risk being kidnapped,” he said, adding that the new practice has financial implications for drivers and passengers alike.

“Passengers are scared too. Some refuse to board vehicles in the evening. Others pay extra so drivers will take safer routes. This road has become a nightmare for all of us,” another driver said.

Residents along the Oyo–Kwara border expressed concern that unless urgent action is taken, the insecurity could escalate further, affecting trade and passenger movement.

“If nothing is done, this route may soon be completely unsafe, and that will hurt local economies,” a resident said.

The drivers told SaharaReporters that night travel along the highway has virtually collapsed. The absence of visible security patrols, checkpoints, or rapid-response units has emboldened criminal gangs.

Some commuters are reportedly taking longer, alternative routes, while others avoid travelling at night entirely.

The takeover of the Ilorin–Ogbomoso Road by armed criminals is part of a broader problem of highway insecurity in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, has raised concerns over a report by a section of the media in which he was wrongly credited with statements suggesting that Lagos State was set for a second private refinery following confirmed talks with new investors.

The Commissioner clarified that he did not make such comments and did not at any time grant an interview or issue a statement relating to refinery development, petroleum investments, or investor negotiations.

Dr. Olumide explained that the statutory mandate of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, especially in relation to infrastructure development, was unambiguous as it involved land-use planning and control, including zoning regulations, layout approvals, and the processing of physical planning and development permits for projects, in line with approved master plans and extant planning laws.

He stressed that while any major infrastructure project, including a refinery, was subject to planning approval and zoning compliance, decisions on investment promotion, project initiation, or sector-specific policy pronouncements fell outside the Ministry’s scope of responsibility.

The Commissioner described the attribution of statements on refinery investment discussions to him as inaccurate, misleading, and unprofessional, and called on media organisations to uphold accuracy and proper verification when reporting on government activities.

He urged members of the public to disregard the report, noting that all official communications from the Ministry would continue to be issued through recognised and authorised channels.