Dozens Feared Dead in Bandit Attack in Kogi State.
At least 27 individuals have been reported dead following a brutal assault by armed bandits on communities within the Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on Saturday.
A military source has confirmed the incident, revealing that the attackers were heavily armed and utilized sophisticated weaponry during the raid.
According to the source, the attack represents a continuation of escalating violence in the region, which has recently seen a troubling rise in bandit-related incidents. “The bandits killed 27 people in Yagba West, Kogi State, just yesterday, and it was not reported. They invaded the area with heavy weapons,” the source stated.
Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District and chairs the Senate Committee on Services, hails from Yagba West, which has become increasingly vulnerable to such deadly assaults. Just a day prior to the mass casualties, reports surfaced of another attack in Bareke, Egbe, where bandits targeted a residential home around 2 a.m., abducting a woman and her two children.
8The woman’s husband narrowly escaped with injuries during this raid, which occurred alarmingly close to Senator Karimi’s residence.
Community members have expressed their fears as the region grapples with these security challenges. “The woman and two of her children were kidnapped right from their house around 2 a.m. while her husband escaped with wounds,” a local source recounted.
Adding to the sense of insecurity, another incident occurred Thursday in Ejiba, where bandits ambushed a commercial bus and kidnapped all passengers aboard. Reports indicate that during this episode, a motorcyclist, identified by serial number 256, was killed in the attack.
On the same day of the bus incident, bandits also stormed Bethel Farm in Ejiba, kidnapping three individuals. Earlier that day, an assault on a bread distributor along the Ejiba to Odo-Eri route resulted in gunfire, injuring one staff member.
These ongoing incidents have raised alarms among residents regarding their safety and the protection of their property, as the region continues to be plagued by violence attributed to armed groups. Local authorities are urged to enhance security measures to protect communities from further attacks.
