Police have confirmed the abduction of a newly married couple and four other people along a border road linking Kwara and Kogi states, as security agencies carry out a joint search for the victims.
The victims were identified as Funmilayo Bamidele and her husband, Reverend Abiodun David, who were returning from their engagement ceremony in Eruku, Kwara State, when the attack occurred on Saturday evening, according to reports.
The vehicle carrying the group was travelling on the Iyemero-Eruku Road, which links communities in Kwara and Kogi states. The occupants expected the car to use the Isanlu Road, but the driver took a back route to drop the best man and other members of the party at Iyamoye in Kogi State, where the vehicle was intercepted and the occupants taken away.
Accounts of the attackers vary in wording. BusinessDay reported the vehicle was intercepted by “armed men” (BusinessDay), while Premium Times described the assailants as “suspected bandits” (Premium Times). Both outlets said the couple and four other people were taken.
Adekimi Ojo, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incident and said security forces have launched a joint operation to locate the victims. He told reporters that soldiers had been deployed to comb the surrounding bush and that police operatives from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states were collaborating on the rescue effort (BusinessDay) (Premium Times).
Both reports said the vehicle used by the victims was later found parked at an abandoned police station in Ayetoro, Ekiti State. Details on the current whereabouts of the other passengers and the abductors were still unclear as of Sunday.
BusinessDay also published a photograph of the newly abducted couple following the incident (BusinessDay).
Premium Times placed the latest attack in the context of several kidnapping incidents reported in Kwara State in recent weeks. The outlet noted earlier cases in August, including the rescue of the Onigbesi of Igbesi, Oba Moses Omotayo, and two other victims after an abduction on 22 August, and separate reports of other abductions during the month (Premium Times).
Security agencies continue to search for the victims and to pursue the suspects. Officials did not provide further operational details or updates on any arrests by the time of the latest reports.
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