Gunmen have killed Ishaq Yunusa, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Dekina LGA of Kogi state, and abducted another occupant of his vehicle.
The incident occurred on Thursday along the Itobe-Ochadamu expressway, around Ojuwo Olijo in Ofu LGA of the state.
Afusat Saliu, Kogi police spokesperson, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja on Friday.
Saliu said the attack occurred at about 5pm when armed assailants emerged from the surrounding bush and opened fire on motorists.
She said a blue Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA 636 CH was later found abandoned along the highway.
“The driver, identified as Hon. Ishaq Yunusa, was found dead in the vehicle, while another occupant was taken into the bush by the assailants,” the statement said.
Saliu said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, had intensified operations in the area.
She said personnel were combing the surrounding forest to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the assailants.
The police spokesperson added that Yunusa’s remains had been evacuated to Grimard Hospital, Anyigba, for autopsy, while the command was pursuing all available leads.
She said Naziru Kankarofi, Kogi commissioner of police, directed sustained security operations along the affected corridor and ordered efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The command urged motorists and residents along the route to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to the police or other security agencies.
The incident occurred a day after several members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were abducted along the Aloma-Egane expressway in Ofu LGA.
The corps members were returning from the NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa state when gunmen blocked two buses and abducted some passengers.
The police later rescued 11 victims, including the drivers of the two buses, while efforts continued to locate other abducted passengers.