Residents of Inele-Ugoh in the Igah Ikeje community of Kogi State are living in fear after a large group of gunmen stormed the area and abducted nine individuals. The brazen attack, which included the kidnapping of mourners heading to a burial, has sparked urgent calls for enhanced security measures, particularly aerial surveillance, to combat the escalating threat.
Mourners and Farmers Targeted in Dawn Raid
The terrifying incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday, 19 December 2025. According to local reports, over 40 heavily armed assailants invaded the community in Olamaboro Local Government Area. Among the victims were four mourners: a woman and her three children. They were reportedly on their way to a burial ceremony in a neighboring community when the gunmen overwhelmed them and forced them into a nearby forest.
In a separate but connected incident, the same group of criminals abducted five other individuals who were working on their farms. The scale and coordination of the attack left the local vigilante group helpless, as eyewitnesses stated the number of gunmen and their sophisticated weaponry deterred any direct confrontation.
Delayed Response and Plea for Air Support
The community immediately alerted soldiers from the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army stationed at a checkpoint within the vicinity. However, by the time the troops arrived, the kidnappers had already vanished deep into the forest with their captives. A joint search operation involving the military and local vigilantes is currently underway.
Despite these efforts, community members and local security watchers express deep skepticism about the mission's success without technological aid. The local community police emphasized the mobile tactics of the bandits, who are estimated to operate in large groups, possibly up to 200, splitting into units and constantly moving their hostages.
"Troops can only succeed when they have support from the air," a representative stated. "So, a drone or a police helicopter is required to root out these criminals from our community. We will not enjoy Christmas if these criminals remain in our forests."
A Pattern of Violence in Olamaboro
This attack is not an isolated event. The Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch (KENW) has reported a concerning concentration of kidnappers' activities in Olamaboro communities recently. They believe the gunmen are infiltrating the locality from neighboring states, operating in significant numbers while being heavily armed.
Another resident echoed the desperation, describing the bandits as "very desperate and audacious, operating day and night." The consensus among locals is a dire need for increased deployment of security personnel and, critically, aerial surveillance by both state and federal authorities to curb this menace.
At the time of reporting, the Kogi State Police Command could not be reached for official confirmation or comment on the attack, as their lines were unresponsive.
