The Kogi State Police Command has refuted media claims suggesting that nine passengers were kidnapped along the Oshokoshoko, Kabba-Obajana-Lokoja road in the state.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, clarified that the reported kidnapping of nine passengers was false and urged the public to disregard such information.
Aya emphasized the importance of media organizations verifying their information before publication, stating, “The media report that a driver was abducted alongside two students, four men and two women along Obajana Ochokochoko last week Saturday is false.”
He further explained, “I called the DPO, and we can confirm that only one woman was abducted by the suspected kidnappers. The Police is currently trailing them, and we are assuring Kogites that the woman will be rescued unhurt from her abductors. There is no need for panic.”
Aya clarified that the reported incident involving nine persons did not occur this year and assured the public that the police, along with other security agencies, are committed to protecting lives and properties in the state.
Previously, media reports had indicated the kidnapping of nine individuals traveling from Kabba to Lokoja. Elupo Eliazer, a person with a disability, whose wife was reportedly among the victims, disclosed details of the incident. He stated, “The kidnappers initially demanded 30 million but later reduced it to 2.6 million after negotiation.”
Eliazer expressed his situation, saying, “My wife and I were traveling to attend our church convention scheduled for Lokoja, but I decided to follow a different vehicle as the Toyota could not contain all of us; otherwise, I would have been in the car with her.”
He added, “The vehicle my wife boarded was ahead of the one I was in. But all the occupants of the vehicle were marched into the bush by the time my own vehicle got to the spot.”
