Residents of Odo-Eri community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State are once again gripped by fear following a fresh attack by suspected armed bandits who abducted two individuals on Friday evening, April 24.
Details of the Latest Attack
The latest incident, according to multiple community sources, comes barely 48 hours after bandits invaded the same community and kidnapped a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), along with his wife, children, and several other residents. The victims of Friday’s attack have been identified as Deji Ajigbewu, a native of the Okoto area in Odo-Eri, and Abayomi Oloniyo Odole, also a resident of the community. Community sources said the armed men stormed the area during the evening hours, firing sporadically to scare residents before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.
Community Members React
A community member, who identified himself simply as John, described the situation as alarming and heartbreaking. He noted that repeated appeals to both the state government and security agencies have yielded no meaningful response. “We have cried out many times to the government and security agencies, but nothing has changed. These attacks keep happening, and nobody is coming to help us,” John said. “People are already considering leaving this community because we don’t feel safe anymore. If nothing is done urgently, everyone will run away. We cannot continue like this.”
John further disclosed that the atmosphere in the community has remained tense since the abduction of the RCCG pastor and his family earlier in the week. “Since the pastor and his family were kidnapped on Wednesday, churches have stopped holding services. The bandits threatened to attack the church again, and people are too afraid to gather,” he said. According to him, the latest attack has heightened fear among residents, many of whom now avoid going out in the evenings. “Now they have returned and kidnapped two more people. Everybody is living in fear. Once it starts getting dark, people rush indoors. There is no sense of security at all,” he added.
Another resident also expressed frustration over what they described as the absence of a visible security presence, despite ongoing reports of attacks. “We hardly see security personnel around here. It is as if we have been abandoned. We need urgent intervention before things get completely out of hand,” the resident said.
Related Incident in Kwara
In a related development, suspected terrorists attacked the Egbe–Koro highway in Kwara State, killing a traveller and abducting two others during an ambush on commuters along the busy border route. The armed attackers reportedly intercepted vehicles, opened fire on travellers, and caused panic in the area, with one victim, identified as Eri Okan, dying on the spot.
