What began as a joyful journey to celebrate a wedding ended in fear and uncertainty on Friday after suspected bandits attacked travelers along the Ogbe–Egbe road in Kogi State, abducting five people and injuring another.
The victims were among residents travelling from Ogbe to Egbe for a wedding ceremony when armed men ambushed them near the boundary between Ogbe and Koro communities, according to local sources.
Witnesses said the attackers opened fire as the vehicle attempted to escape, leaving one person wounded and five others forcibly taken into the surrounding bush.
“One of the passengers was shot and rushed to the hospital, while the rest were taken away by the attackers,” a community member said.
Beyond the immediate casualties, the attack has deepened anxiety among residents of Ogbe, Egbe and nearby settlements, who say routine social activities now carry significant risk due to persistent insecurity on rural roads.
Community leaders described the Ogbe–Egbe axis as increasingly unsafe, noting that travelers often face attacks when moving between villages for ceremonies, markets or family visits.
Residents have renewed calls on security agencies and the Kogi State Government to intensify patrols along the route and conduct sustained operations in surrounding forests, believed to be hideouts for armed groups.
The incident highlights the broader challenge of securing rural highways, even as national efforts to combat banditry and kidnapping continue.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has announced the recent arrest of two suspected bandit and kidnapping kingpins linked to violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara states, a development authorities say could help weaken criminal networks operating across the region.
For affected communities, however, residents say restoring confidence on local roads remains critical, warning that fear of attacks is beginning to disrupt daily life and social cohesion.
Wedding Journey Turns Violent as Bandits Strike Kogi Rural Road
