One Killed, At Least Four Residents Abducted As Bandits Attack Yagba East, Yagba West In Kogi

SaharaReporters learnt that the coordinated assaults, which began on November 30 and continued into the early hours of December 1, have targeted rural settlements already grappling with recurring insecurity.

A renewed wave of violent attacks has swept across multiple communities in Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas of Kogi State, leaving residents terrified and security agencies scrambling for responses.

SaharaReporters learnt that the coordinated assaults, which began on November 30 and continued into the early hours of December 1, have targeted rural settlements already grappling with recurring insecurity.

Meanwhile, in Idofin, armed bandits invaded the Tiv community in the dead of the night, killing one resident identified as Nicholas.

SaharaReporters gathered that three women were abducted during the raid, while another person remains missing as locals and vigilante teams continue frantic search efforts.

Residents explained that the attackers operated freely for several minutes before security operatives arrived in the area.

In Odo-Eri, a man identified as Ola Abanikanda was seized by suspected bandits.

Family members said the kidnappers attempted to contact them using the victim’s phone, but the call reportedly broke off after the abductors, who could not communicate in English, struggled to make clear ransom demands.

Community members remain tense as they await further information from security agencies.

Residents across Yagba East and Yagba West are calling on the Kogi State Government and federal security agencies to deploy urgent measures to halt what they describe as an escalating and coordinated assault on their communities.

As of press time, police authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the multiple incidents.

On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the Kogi State Government had confirmed an early Sunday morning attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, as reported by the newspaper.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, condemned the assault in a statement issued from Lokoja, describing it as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”

According to the statement, gunmen stormed the church, abducting the pastor, popularly known as Orlando, his wife, and several other worshippers. SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the attackers whisked away the victims during the assault.

Footage obtained by SaharaReporters shows the interior of the church in disarray, with shoes and Bibles scattered across the floor where congregants had been seated.

In the video, the person filming the scene described the abduction and pleaded for urgent assistance to rescue the victims.

The incident left residents of Ejiba in shock and reignited fears over the growing insecurity in the region.

Commissioner Fanwo described the incident as sad and unfortunate, adding that efforts are underway to secure the rescue of all the victims.

The commissioner noted that the state government and the Yagba West Local Government Area had been making concerted efforts to combat criminal activities in the area, given its status as a border LGA.

He added that Ejiba had experienced its share of such incidents, yet some pastors continued to hold services in isolated churches in the bush, without adequate attention to security.