By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Unknown gunmen have reportedly killed two people and abducted many other travellers and residents in Ayegunle Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to residents, the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when the gunmen invaded the community, blocked the major road passing through the town while they operated.

The attackers allegedly opened fire indiscriminately on arrival, causing panic and forcing many residents to flee.

“The attack happened around 2.25am. The sound of gunfire woke us up. The gunmen killed two residents and injured several others,” according to a community source.

The source added that two residents were abducted from their homes, while several passengers travelling in commercial vehicles were also kidnapped after running into the gang’s roadblock.

The exact number of abducted persons and other details surrounding the incident have remained unclear.

But Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, confirmed knowledge of the attack, explaining that the criminals blocked the highway linking Ayegunle Bunu to neighbouring communities before abducting several travellers:

“Some people were injured during the attack. Our operatives responded promptly after receiving the report, and investigations have commenced.”

Saliu Oyiza Afusat, Kogi state Police spokesman, further confirmed that the two victims killed were a pastor who was attacked in his residence and a passenger travelling in a vehicle.

Relatedly, troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Monday said they rescued 23 kidnapped passengers following a swift counter-kidnapping operation along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Troops stationed within Kabba metropolis responded immediately after receiving a distress call at about 3:30 am and moved to the scene of the attack.

Although the kidnappers had fled before the arrival of security personnel, the troops promptly commenced an aggressive pursuit along the suspected escape routes of the criminals.

The sustained pressure from the pursuing troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 23 captives, who were subsequently rescued unharmed.

The Army said troops have continued to dominate the area and are conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations to locate and safely recover any remaining victims who may still be in captivity.

*Recovers large arms cache- 15AK rifles, 1434 live ammunition

The November 21, 2025 attackers on St. Mary’s Catholic school in Papiri village, Niger State, abducting nearly 300 students and staff have been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). Now under arrest are five persons, including two Nigeriens, suspected to be arms couriers to the gunmen and a large cache of arms, including 15 AK rifles and 1434 rounds of live ammunition.

Security sources reportedly indicate that one Yusuf Mohammed aka Bature, who is on the list of wanted members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad aka Boko Haram terror organization and his accomplice, Mubarak Ibrahim were arrested on the Zaria Kaduna highway while on their way to collect a consignment of arms for their commanders.

During a follow-up operation, continued the sources, the arrest of Goni Ibrahim, an international arms courier from Diffa Region, Niger Republic was arrested alongside Ibrahim and one Tukur Sani, who was identified as his accomplice.

The security sources further disclosed that, concealed in an unnamed blue car the arrested men were travelling in were 15 AK 103 rifles, 15 magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition.

Days after the arrests, added the security sources, yet another member of the arms courier syndicate, Alhaji Adamu aka Gado Banufe, known to be supplying arms around the Kebbi axis, was equally arrested in Yauri, Kebbi State.

The security sources disclosed that preliminary investigations established that the five men served as arms couriers to the gunmen who carried out the November 2025 attacks on the Catholic boarding school in Papiri.

Dozens of gunmen on motorcycles had in the wee hours of November 21, 2025, stormed the Catholic primary and secondary boarding school, rounding up students and teachers at gunpoint.

While about 50 of the children managed to escape in the chaos that greeted the attack, over 250 others were marched for days into the Kainji Lake Reserve forest.

Slightly over a month after the attack, on December 21, 2025, the federal government and Niger state officials confirmed the rescue and safe return of the remaining 130 captives.

Afrobeats superstar, David Adedeji Adeleke aka Davido, has clarified the nature of his relationship with Seyi Tinubu following criticism that trailed his recent comments on insecurity and injustice in Nigeria.

The singer, whose real name is David Adeleke, had earlier taken to X on Saturday to lament the state of the nation and fault entertainers, including himself, for not speaking up enough on issues affecting Nigerians.

“I can’t lie, we entertainers… we dey fuck up, I won’t lie, including me. We need to speak up. It’s too much injustice going on. Our country don go,” he wrote.

His post sparked mixed reactions, with some social media users questioning his sincerity because of his perceived closeness to members of the President’s family.

One X user, identified as #princessluna237, accused the singer of being performative, alleging that he belonged to a “City Boys” group chat and was too close to Seyi Tinubu to criticise the government.

“Na God go punish you and your family. Go and do that performative rubbish in your City Boys group chat and get tf out of my face with all this pretentious nonsense. Na foolish Nigerians I blame,” she wrote.

But Davido denied being part of any political group and maintained that his friendship with Seyi Tinubu does not prevent him from expressing concerns about national issues.

“I no dey part of any city boy group,” he wrote.

The singer also recalled that he had previously faced criticism after speaking about Nigeria’s challenges during interviews with foreign media.

“When I called out the government on American media, you guys rained curses on me,” he added.

Davido explained that he had known Seyi Tinubu for years and often communicates his concerns directly to him.

“I’ve been friends with ST for years and that’s where it stops, and I call and complain to him all the time, even in person,” he wrote.