Several reportages has revealed the porous nature of using major Nigerian roads due to growing concern as fresh reports indicate an alarming rise in kidnapping incidents along major interstate highways. Travellers heading across state borders are increasingly vulnerable, with several routes now flagged as high-risk corridors by security analysts and local communities.
Victims have reported attacks occurring mostly at night and in poorly secured stretches, where armed terrorists take advantage of situation.
There are several reports which are as followed:
1. November 10, 2025 Along Kabba Lokoja highway (Kogi State) Six senior directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence travelling from Lagos to Abuja were abducted by armed men in a convoy ambush.
2. October 27, 2025 Abuja Lokoja highway (around Aseni, Kogi State) Passengers in an 18-seater bus were kidnapped after gunmen ambushed the vehicle, shot into the air and deflated its tyres. Several travellers taken.
3. September 26, 2025 Okene Auchi highway (Kogi Edo axis) An Edo-bound commuter bus with 12 passengers was attacked; some passengers were kidnapped and later 8 of them were rescued.
4. June 2025 Udi-Oji River road, Enugu State Eight travellers were abducted by unknown gunmen their vehicles abandoned and found with doors open and engines still running.
5. 2025 (multiple times) On widely used inter-state highways / major road corridors Kidnapping has become increasingly cited as a systemic danger many of the busiest inter-state roads have been flagged as high-risk for travellers.
The kidnappers kidnaps either for ransome, to kill as hobby or for human spare parts trade. This should be a concern for Nigerian government.
Source: Throwback Times
