The Kogi State Police Command has officially refuted widespread social media reports claiming that passengers were abducted along the Kabba-Okene Road on June 17, 2026. In a statement released on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Oyiza Salisu, addressed the incident, labeling the allegations as entirely false and misleading.
According to the statement, around 9 p.m. on the said date, a commercial bus driven by Ojo, a native of Kabba, was en route to Ibilo carrying a load of coco yam. The driver reportedly noticed suspicious lights ahead and attempted to make a U-turn. When he saw individuals approaching, he abandoned the vehicle and fled to a nearby military checkpoint for safety.
Salisu emphasized that no passengers were onboard at the time, and therefore, no kidnapping or harm occurred. “It is important to state clearly that no passenger was kidnapped or harmed, as there were no passengers on board at the time of the incident,” she said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the situation was not criminal in nature. The vehicle had experienced an electrical fault, which contributed to the driver’s actions. The goods were later transferred to another vehicle and delivered to their destination without any further issues.
The police noted that the matter was handled at the military checkpoint and was not formally reported to the police since there was no kidnapping or casualties. “For the avoidance of doubt, the circulating claims of an armed bandit attack and abduction of passengers are misleading and not accurate,” the statement concluded.