Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Isanlu Makutu, Yagba East Local Government Area, Kogi State — Tension and fear swept through the Isanlu Makutu community on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, after armed bandits reportedly abducted three residents in a daylight raid that left locals shaken and anxious about their safety.
According to sources within the community, the victims were taken earlier in the day under circumstances that remain unclear. One of the individuals abducted has been identified as Segun, while the identities of the other two victims have not yet been officially confirmed. Residents described a chaotic scene as the attackers struck swiftly and disappeared into nearby bushland, leaving families and neighbours in a state of alarm.
The incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of armed attacks and abductions along major routes and rural communities across Yagba East. In recent weeks, suspected bandits have mounted roadblock ambushes along the Isanlu–Makutu–Idofin corridor, intercepting travellers and kidnapping passengers in broad daylight, heightening insecurity in the region. Reports from late November 2025 indicate that gunmen abducted multiple travellers along the same stretch of highway in coordinated attacks that forced commuters to flee and disrupted movement on the vital route.
The increasing frequency of such attacks has contributed to widespread fear among residents, who say that daily life and economic activity are being hampered by the threat of violence. Many in Isanlu Makutu and surrounding villages have begun avoiding travel after dusk, with some households restricting movement even during daylight hours amid concerns that further abductions or robberies could occur without warning.
While it is not yet clear whether formal contact has been made with the abductors, no official statement has been issued by the Kogi State Police Command at the time of filing this report. This absence of immediate confirmation has fuelled anxiety among community members, who are appealing for an urgent response from security agencies to locate and rescue the victims safely.
Security sources in Kogi have previously acknowledged the persistence of bandit activity in the state. In related developments, coordinated operations involving the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade and local security forces have responded to other kidnappings and armed incidents, with some victims rescued in military operations along the Isanlu–Egbe axis.
Beyond isolated attacks, the region has seen other violent episodes in recent weeks, including the abduction of worshippers during church services in neighbouring Yagba West Local Government Area. In early December 2025, armed gunmen reportedly stormed a service at a church in Ejiba, kidnapping the pastor, his wife, and several congregants in an assault that underscored the expanding footprint of insecurity in Kogi State.
The cumulative effect of these incidents has left residents in Yagba East and neighbouring communities calling for heightened security patrols, better intelligence sharing, and strategic deployment of security forces to prevent further abductions and bolster public confidence. Local leaders argue that sustained and visible security presence, especially along vulnerable corridors like Isanlu–Makutu–Idofin, is critical to deterring bandit operations and safeguarding civilians.
State officials have in the past reaffirmed their commitment to tackling insecurity, with Governor Usman Ododo pledging to dismantle criminal hideouts and strengthen protective measures. However, the recurrence of violent incidents suggests that residents remain uneasy about the effectiveness of current responses and the pace at which security improvements are being implemented on the ground.
As families of the abducted residents await word on their fate, the broader community continues to monitor developments closely, expressing urgent hope that security agencies will intervene swiftly to secure the missing individuals’ release. The episode has once again highlighted the deepening challenge of banditry and kidnapping in parts of Kogi State, where rural communities have increasingly borne the brunt of armed criminal activity.
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