By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
At least 40 prospective voters participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise were abducted by unknown gunmen along the Dekina–Ajiyolo–Anyigba road in Kogi State on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The victims, mostly residents of Abocho community and nearby villages, had traveled to Dekina Local Government Area (LGA) headquarters to register for their voter cards before falling into the hands of the assailants while returning home.
Eyewitnesses said the victims, who had chartered a bus for the trip, were ambushed around 6 p.m. by more than 20 armed men who forced them into the bush at gunpoint.
“The kidnappers played a fast one on us,” one eyewitness recounted. “They released about 31 victims, and we thought it was over, not knowing it was a distraction. Before we realized their tricks, they had escaped with about 10 others.”
The mass abduction caused widespread panic across Abocho and adjoining communities, heightening fears over rising insecurity in the state.
However, troops from the 12 Brigade, Lokoja, in collaboration with the local security network, swiftly responded to the incident, giving chase to the kidnappers and rescuing several victims.
A source confirmed that the bus used for the trip was later recovered and taken to the Abocho Police Station, while search operations for the remaining abductees—believed to be 10, including the bus driver—are ongoing.
Security agencies have intensified operations in the area, vowing to track down the perpetrators and secure the release of all captives.
“The security agencies are doing everything possible to ensure the victims return safely,” a community source said.
Efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP William Ovye Aya, for official confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The incident comes amid growing concerns about voter safety during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise across several parts of the country. Residents have called on authorities to strengthen security around registration centers and transport routes to prevent future occurrences.
