₦airaland Forum

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.

iwaeda:
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.

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.


https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/15/fear-grips-commuters-bandits-abduct-rob-travellers-ilorin-ogbomoso-highway

oyeb15:
Am clueless about d situation jare

Christistruth00:
Send Amotekun there and Forest Guards

Christistruth00:
Send Amotekun there and Forest Guards

MEGAWATCH:
Like play like play, Yoruba land is finished o!


Vote properly they said NO!

How can people be suffering in the midst of their brothers presidential mandate?


May God forbids......

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

MEGAWATCH:
Like play like play, Yoruba land is finished o!


Vote properly they said NO!

How can people be suffering in the midst of their brothers presidential mandate?


May God forbids......

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

omoredia:
The average yoruba has been deceived to believe that ibos are the cause of their problems

Christistruth00:
Send Amotekun there and Forest Guards