Gunmen Abduct Mother, Three Children and Five Others in Kogi Community

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Residents of a rural community in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State were thrown into fear and uncertainty early Friday morning after heavily armed gunmen kidnapped nine people, including a woman and her three children, in a brazen attack that local authorities and community leaders have described as “alarming and distressing.” 

The incident unfolded at Inele-Ugoh village in the Igah Ikeje community when a group of more than 40 gunmen, reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the area at dawn. According to eyewitnesses, the unidentified assailants ambushed the victims, including the woman and her children, as they were reportedly traveling to a neighbouring community for a burial ceremony. The abductors forced them into nearby forested terrain, whisking them away before local defenders could organize a counter-response. 

In addition to the family, five other community members were seized while working on their farms during the violent incursion, underscoring the vulnerability of rural populations who often labour in isolated locations far from immediate assistance. 

The scale and audacity of the attack appear to have overwhelmed local security responses. Vigilante groups and neighbourhood watch members in the area reportedly stood down in the face of the large number of armed men, saying they were outgunned and ill-equipped to confront such an organised group. With the kidnappers slipping away into dense forest and rugged terrain, the immediate priority for residents and security operatives alike has been the safe recovery of the captives. 

Following the abduction, distress calls were sent to troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, stationed at a checkpoint within the general community area, requesting urgent reinforcement. However, according to reports, the soldiers arrived after the gunmen had already fled with their captives into the forest. Military personnel and local vigilantes have since commenced combing surrounding bushland in search of the victims, though officials and residents fear that the lack of aerial surveillance and specialised tracking tools could limit the effectiveness of ongoing search efforts. 

Community sources have raised serious concerns about the mobility and tactics of the suspected bandits. Some residents claim the group operates in fluid and shifting formations, often splitting into smaller units and moving their victims frequently to evade capture, complicating efforts by ground forces to pinpoint their location. Calls for deployment of drones or police helicopters from the state capital have been made by locals who believe that air support would significantly enhance search and rescue operations. 

The abduction has compounded growing anxiety among people in Kogi East, where kidnapping and banditry have reportedly surged in recent months. Community leaders and security watchers note that armed groups appear to be infiltrating rural communities from neighbouring states, taking advantage of poorly secured corridors and limited patrol capabilities. These patterns have prompted renewed calls for a stronger security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and greater cooperation between federal, state, and community security networks to prevent further attacks. 

The psychological impact on the villagers has been profound. Families, many of whom have relatives among the abducted, are grappling with fear over the captives’ safety, especially given the isolation of forest hideouts and the absence of immediate communication with kidnappers. Local residents have urged authorities to accelerate rescue efforts, even as they prepare for possible ransom demands or protracted negotiations, which have become a regrettably familiar feature of kidnapping cases in parts of Nigeria. 

The spate of violent abductions reflects broader security challenges in parts of north-central Nigeria, where criminal gangs and bandit groups have increasingly launched raids on villages, farms, and travellers. Analysts say such groups exploit gaps in enforcement, rugged terrain and community vulnerability, using tactics that range from ambushes on isolated families to large-scale village incursions. Civil society organisations and human rights advocates have repeatedly urged government agencies to adopt more robust strategies, including strengthening rural patrols, enhancing community surveillance systems, and investing in aerial reconnaissance to deter and respond to such attacks. 

State security officials have not yet issued a detailed public statement confirming the identities of the abductors or outlining any immediate strategy for their rescue. Police channels in Kogi State were reportedly unresponsive at the time of reporting, leaving communities to rely on military search operations and informal updates from local defence volunteers. 

This latest attack has also triggered fresh discussions among traditional rulers and civil society leaders in Kogi State about the need for comprehensive security reforms to protect vulnerable rural inhabitants, particularly as festive seasons approach and movement between communities increases. Many residents fear that without decisive action, criminal elements will continue to exploit the same patterns of vulnerability, placing more families at risk of violence and abduction. 

As the search continues, the fate of the mother, her three children and the five farmworkers remains uncertain, and their loved ones are appealing for government and security forces to intensify efforts to bring them home safely. The community’s plea highlights the urgent need for an effective, coordinated response to the persistent threat of armed violence that continues to afflict many parts of rural Nigeria. 

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