14 December 2025
Fear gripped Okunran community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on Saturday evening, December 13, 2025, after armed bandits invaded the town and abducted a resident in a brazen attack.
According to a local source, the assailants stormed the community at about 7:00 p.m. and kidnapped a Hausa man in the heart of the town. The incident triggered panic, forcing residents to shut their doors and remain indoors as gunmen reportedly moved freely within the area.
Following the attack, residents renewed calls for an increased security presence, warning that the worsening situation could spiral further if urgent action is not taken.
Okunran is one of several communities in Yagba West currently battling rising cases of banditry and abductions, particularly during evening hours. The latest incident comes amid a wave of kidnappings that has left residents of Yagba East and West living in fear.
Just days earlier, a farmer identified as Dada Babatege, popularly known as “Old Soldier,” was abducted from his farm behind St. Kizito’s College in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area. Sources said the attackers struck in broad daylight, seizing Babatege and escaping into surrounding bushes before any intervention.
The growing insecurity has intensified anxiety across the region, with locals lamenting that repeated appeals for improved security have yielded little result.
In another disturbing incident, bandits stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West, during a worship service on November 30, 2025. Fourteen worshippers were abducted, including the presiding pastor, identified as Orlando, six children from his household, a three-week-old baby, and a four-month-old infant.
The attackers reportedly demanded an initial ransom of ₦500 million, later reducing it to ₦200 million, and issued a two-day ultimatum while threatening dire consequences if the demand was not met.
These successive attacks highlight the deepening security crisis in Kogi State, particularly across the Yagba axis, where communities continue to endure relentless kidnappings and violent raids with no immediate relief in sight.
