Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Hon. Ishaq Yunusa, and abducted another occupant of his vehicle along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway.
The attack occurred on Thursday at about 5pm around Ojuwo Olijo in Ofu Local Government Area of the state, according to the Kogi State Police Command.
The incident adds to growing security concerns along major transport corridors in Kogi State, where suspected kidnappers recently attacked three commercial buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway.
APC Chairman Found Dead Inside Vehicle
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu, confirmed the latest attack in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja on Friday.
According to the police spokesperson, armed assailants emerged from the surrounding bush and opened fire on motorists travelling along the highway.
A blue Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA 636 CH was later found abandoned on the road.
Saliu said Yunusa, who was driving the vehicle, was found dead inside the car, while another occupant was taken into the bush by the attackers.
The police said the deceased was subsequently evacuated to Grimard Hospital in Anyigba for autopsy.
Police Launch Search for Abducted Victim
The Kogi State Police Command said it had commenced an intensive search operation to rescue the abducted passenger and identify those responsible for the attack.
Saliu said the police were working with other security agencies and had deployed personnel to comb surrounding forests in search of the victim and the assailants.
The command said investigators were also pursuing available leads that could help establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify the perpetrators.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, directed security personnel to sustain operations along the affected corridor and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Itobe Corridor Faces Renewed Security Concerns
The attack occurred along a transport corridor that has featured prominently in recent security incidents in Kogi State.
Earlier in August, The Bureau Journal reported that suspected kidnappers attacked three buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway, abducting passengers and triggering a joint security response.
Security forces subsequently rescued 15 kidnap victims after a gun battle with suspected abductors in a forest around the area. The victims were rescued following a coordinated operation involving police, military personnel, the DSS, NSCDC and local security actors.
The repeated incidents have heightened concerns about the vulnerability of road users and communities located along forested sections of the route.
Recent Security Operations in Kogi
The latest killing comes as security agencies continue operations against criminal networks and suspected terrorists operating in different parts of Kogi State.
In June, security operatives intercepted a cache of arms and ammunition in Kogi during an intelligence-led operation aimed at preventing a planned retaliatory attack by suspected criminal elements.
The operation involved security personnel working across state lines and resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition and military uniforms, according to authorities.
In another operation, Nigerian forces arrested two suspected terrorists in Ajaokuta Local Government Area during a patrol operation in May.
These operations reflect the wider security challenge facing Kogi, a state whose strategic road network connects several parts of Nigeria and provides important routes for interstate movement.
Kogi Assembly Moves to Strengthen Preventive Security
The latest attack also comes shortly after the Kogi State House of Assembly advanced legislation seeking to strengthen preventive security measures across the state.
The proposed legislation seeks to create a framework for gathering information about people entering, residing or operating in Kogi while strengthening intelligence gathering and security profiling.
The move followed growing concerns about criminal movements across interstate routes and the potential exploitation of Kogi’s extensive road networks and forested areas.
However, the latest incident underscores that legislation will need to be accompanied by effective intelligence gathering, rapid response capacity, inter-agency cooperation and sustained security presence along vulnerable routes.
State Police Debate Gains Security Relevance
The continuing security challenges in Kogi also come amid a wider national debate over decentralising policing in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Senate has already passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police, with the proposed system intended to complement the existing federal policing structure.
The debate has gained momentum as states face increasingly complex security threats that require local intelligence and rapid intervention.
The Bureau Journal’s comprehensive explainer on the State Police Bill examines the proposed system, including its potential benefits, funding challenges, oversight requirements and concerns about possible political abuse.
Police Urge Motorists to Remain Vigilant
The Kogi State Police Command has urged motorists and residents living around the affected route to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The command said further information would be released as the investigation progresses.
Yunusa has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
Security agencies are expected to continue searching the surrounding forest for the abducted occupant while working to establish the identities and whereabouts of those responsible for the attack.
For residents and road users along the Itobe-Ochadamu corridor, the incident is another reminder of the security risks posed by vulnerable highway and forest routes in parts of Kogi State.
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