Armed Kidnappers Terrorize Kwara Highway
Suspected kidnappers launched a brazen attack on travelers along the Eruku-Egbe road in Kwara State on Sunday, openly firing at vehicles that refused to stop for them. The dangerous situation forced motorists to make impossible choices: either halt their journeys or risk being shot at by the criminals.
Police Commissioner Confirms Sunday Attack
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, provided official confirmation of the incident to journalists, specifically clarifying that the attack occurred on Sunday around 4 pm, not Monday as some viral reports had suggested. According to CP Ojo, one courageous driver who came under fire managed to escape the assailants and sought immediate refuge at the Eruku Police Station, where he remained until the following morning due to safety concerns.
The Police Commissioner explained the motive behind the shooting, stating: "Certainly, they were kidnappers because their reason for firing is to force the driver to stop so that they could trans-load." He praised the driver who defied the attackers and successfully reached police protection.
Security Response and Previous Operations
CP Ojo assured the public that his officers have taken decisive action following the incident. "There are policemen on that road now, many of them," he emphasized, noting that intelligence suggests the kidnappers originated from Ayemoro in Ekiti State. The police have mobilized substantial forces to secure the entire route and have chased the criminals away from the area.
This incident follows a major security success last month when troops from the Nigerian Army's 2 Division and Sector 3, Operation Fasan Yamma, rescued 21 kidnapped victims in coordinated operations across Kwara and Kogi states. According to Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 2 Division, the October 17, 2025 operation freed victims who included:
- 14 male captives
- 4 female captives
- 1 infant
- 4 Chinese nationals
Major General C. R. Nnebeife, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, confirmed that all rescued victims received immediate medical attention and relief materials to help them recover from their traumatic ordeal.
