AfriPulse
Bandits have abducted no fewer than nine persons in Inele-Ugoh, Igah Ikeje community of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, with four of the victims identified as mourners.
The victims include a woman and her three children who were reportedly travelling to another community to attend a burial when they were intercepted by the attackers.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday after more than 40 armed men reportedly stormed the community.
According to sources, the woman and her children were seized by the gunmen and taken into a nearby forest. Five other residents were also abducted separately while working on their farms.
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An eyewitness disclosed that the number of the attackers and the weapons in their possession discouraged local vigilantes from engaging them.
Following the attack, residents raised alarm and alerted troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade stationed at a checkpoint within the community. However, the soldiers reportedly arrived after the gunmen had already escaped into the forest.
Although security operatives and vigilante members have commenced a search operation, community members expressed concerns that locating the abductors may prove difficult without aerial support.
They said deployment of drones or a police helicopter from Lokoja would significantly enhance the rescue efforts.
A local community police officer said, “This group of bandits are going about in large numbers, they could be up to 200 and they share themselves into two groups. They don’t stay in one location, they keep moving their captives from one location to another. Troops can only succeed when there is support from the air space. So, a drone or the police helicopter is required to root out these criminals from our community. We will not enjoy Christmas if these criminals remain in our forests.”
Members of the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch (KENW) also reported that kidnappers have intensified their operations in Olamaboro communities in recent times. “The gunmen are obviously infiltrating the locality from neighbouring states. The gunmen are operating in good numbers and are heavily armed.”
Another resident said, “These are bandits, they are very desperate and audacious, operating day and night. We need more deployment and air surveillance by the state and federal government to curtail the menace of these criminals.”
Meanwhile, in a related development, bandits reportedly invaded Olle community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state, killing two persons and abducting several others.
The attack was said to have occurred in the afternoon of December 19, 2025, along farm routes in the area.
Sources said residents heading to their farms were ambushed by the attackers, who killed at least two people during the assault. As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of abducted persons could not be confirmed.
However, community sources disclosed that no fewer than 10 persons from the nearby Taki community had already been taken by the assailants.
The bandits were also said to be positioned along the Olle–Iluke road, raising fears of further attacks.
The spate of attacks has heightened tension in the Bunu district of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, forcing residents to flee as several communities have been deserted and left vulnerable to criminal activities.
A video showing some children abducted from ECWA church Aiyetoro Kiri and other locations has been circulating on social media, with the bandits reportedly demanding large sums of money as ransom.
Concerned Okun people are said to be soliciting donations from the public to facilitate the release of the abducted children and some pregnant women currently held by the bandits.
Residents have appealed to the Kogi State Government and security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further loss of lives and restore peace to the affected communities.
(SUN)
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