KEY POINTS
- APC Chairman in Dekina LGA, Ishaq Yunusa, was shot dead along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway in Kogi State.
- Gunmen reportedly abducted another occupant of his vehicle and fled into the bush.
- Police and other security agencies have launched a search for the victim and attackers.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Hon. Ishaq Yunusa, has been killed by gunmen in a deadly attack along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway.
Yunusa was reportedly attacked on Thursday evening near Ojuwo Olijo in Ofu Local Government Area while travelling along the highway.
The incident, which has heightened concerns over security along the route, was confirmed on Friday by the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu
According to the police, the attack occurred at about 5pm when armed men allegedly emerged from the surrounding bush and opened fire on motorists using the road.
Yunusa, who was driving the vehicle, was struck during the attack and was later found dead inside his car.
Another occupant of the vehicle was reportedly seized by the attackers and taken into the nearby bush.
The circumstances surrounding the identity of the abducted passenger and the motive for the attack were not immediately disclosed by the police.
Security forces launch search operation
Following the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said it had stepped up security operations in the area in conjunction with other security agencies.
Security personnel have reportedly begun combing surrounding forests in an effort to locate the abducted victim and identify the gunmen responsible for the attack.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, ordered sustained operations along the affected highway and directed officers to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the perpetrators.
The police said investigators were also following leads that could assist in establishing the circumstances of the attack and bringing those responsible to justice.
The police spokesperson said Yunusa’s remains had been evacuated to Grimard Hospital in Anyigba, where an autopsy is expected to be conducted.
The investigation is continuing as security agencies work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the killing and locate the abducted occupant.
The incident adds to recent security concerns in Kogi State, where attacks and abductions along major roads have raised fears among motorists and residents.
The Kogi State Police Command has urged motorists and residents living along the Itobe-Ochadamu corridor to exercise increased caution.
Residents have also been encouraged to promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the police or other security agencies to assist ongoing efforts to prevent further attacks.
The command said it would provide additional information as the investigation and search operation progress.