In a brazen early morning assault, a large group of armed bandits struck a rural community in Kogi State, abducting nine residents, including a woman and her three young children. The attack has intensified fears over the deteriorating security situation in the state.
Details of the Early Morning Attack
The incident occurred in the Inele-Ugoh village, part of the Igah Ikeje community, located in the Olamaboro Local Government Area. According to eyewitness accounts, approximately 40 armed men invaded the area in the early hours of Friday, December 19, 2025.
The gunmen specifically targeted a family on the move. The woman and her three children were kidnapped while reportedly on their way to another community for a burial ceremony. The assailants seized them and forced them into the nearby forest. Separately, five other individuals were abducted from their farms during the same coordinated attack.
Security Response and Community Fear
Local vigilante groups present in the area were reportedly overwhelmed and outgunned, deterred from confronting the bandits due to their superior numbers and sophisticated weaponry. Residents immediately placed distress calls to the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, which has a checkpoint in the vicinity.
However, by the time soldiers arrived at the scene, the kidnappers had already fled deep into the forest with their captives. A community police source revealed the challenging nature of these criminal operations, stating that the bandits operate in very large groups, sometimes up to 200 strong, and frequently move their hostages between locations to avoid detection.
"Ground troops alone may not succeed without aerial support. Drones or police helicopters from Lokoja are needed to flush them out. We will not enjoy Christmas if these criminals remain in our forests," the source lamented, highlighting the community's anxiety.
A Pattern of Violence in Kogi State
This kidnapping is the latest in a series of security breaches plaguing Kogi State. Just weeks earlier, on Sunday, November 30, 2025, armed men attacked the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, kidnapping a pastor during a service and throwing the community into chaos.
Furthermore, on Monday, December 1, 2025, a fierce gun battle between security forces and bandits trapped travelers for hours on the Oshokoshoko–Obajana highway. These consecutive incidents paint a troubling picture of escalating banditry and kidnapping in the state, raising serious concerns about the safety of residents as the Christmas period approaches.
