Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
KOGI STATE, Nigeria — Armed assailants suspected to be bandits attacked the Idofin community in the Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State on the evening of January 3, 2026, killing one resident and injuring another in a brazen assault that underscores the deepening insecurity in the region. The incident, which took place between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., has fuelled fear among locals and reignited calls for a stronger security response from both state and federal authorities.
According to eyewitness accounts and early reports, groups of gunmen riding motorcycles descended on the rural settlement of Idofin, opening fire on residents and causing chaos as terrified families fled for safety. One victim, a man whose identity has not yet been publicly released, was shot dead during the attack, while another sustained serious injuries and was later evacuated from the scene by military personnel to an undisclosed hospital for critical medical care.
The attack in Idofin forms part of a broader pattern of escalating violence in Kogi State, where banditry, kidnappings and highway ambushes have grown increasingly frequent over the past several months. Previous incidents in neighbouring areas have included the abduction of travellers along the Isanlu–Makutu–Idofin road and assaults on worshippers and communities across the Yagba region, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in local security.
Residents expressed shock and anguish following the latest raid. One local, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the community was still reeling from fear as many families hurriedly boarded up their homes and withdrew children from the streets. “We never expected this kind of violence here,” the resident said. “People are scared. We need protection — we cannot keep living like this.”
Community members lamented what they described as insufficient security presence in the area and urged both the Kogi State Government and federal security agencies to enhance patrols and deploy reinforcements to prevent further attacks. “These criminals operate at will because they know there is a weak security response,” another villager said. “We appeal to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and security chiefs to take decisive action before more innocent lives are lost.”
As of the latest updates, neither the Kogi State Government nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official statement on the Idofin incident, though local platforms report ongoing concerns among residents about a possible increase in bandit movements in the Yagba East and surrounding councils.
The attack comes amid a broader surge in banditry across Nigeria’s north-central and northwestern regions. In recent weeks and months, multiple communities in Kogi have been targeted by armed groups suspected of operating for ransom and strategic territorial control. In neighbouring Ayetoro-Kiri community, for example, residents have been grappling with the fallout of previous bandit incursions, with several abducted persons still held in captivity and others confirmed to have died shortly after being freed.
Security analysts note that criminal networks in the area exploit dense forest cover and limited infrastructure, enabling them to strike rural villages and retreat into bushland with relative ease. They also point to the increasing use of motorcycles and guerilla-style tactics that challenge conventional policing and make timely response difficult without robust intelligence and coordinated operations.
Kogi State has faced a series of violent episodes in recent months, including kidnappings on major highways and attacks on places of worship. In one December 2025 incident, armed bandits reportedly stormed the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro-Kiri, killing at least one worshipper and abducting several others during a Sunday service. Authorities have been under pressure from communities and civil society groups to step up efforts to protect vulnerable areas and pursue those responsible for these crimes.
Local officials have occasionally acknowledged these security challenges and pledged support from joint task forces comprising the Nigerian Army, police and other security agencies. In mid-December, the Kogi State Government confirmed that local hunters and security operatives engaged bandits in Ayetoro Kiri, leading to the neutralisation of several attackers and the deployment of additional forces to the area.
However, residents and analysts alike maintain that piecemeal responses are insufficient to stem the tide of violence. They argue that sustained operations, improved intelligence gathering and community engagement are necessary to disrupt bandit cells and deny them freedom of movement. The absence of a visible, proactive security presence in many rural communities, they contend, has emboldened criminals and undermined public confidence.
Human rights and civil society organisations monitoring insecurity in the region have called on the federal government to coordinate a comprehensive strategy to tackle banditry, involving not only kinetic actions but also socio-economic interventions to address the root causes that fuel criminal recruitment and community vulnerability.
For the families directly affected by the Idofin attack, the immediate priority remains medical care for the injured and dignified burial arrangements for the deceased. But for many in the wider Yagba area, the assault is another painful reminder of the daily dangers faced by rural communities and the urgent need for effective security reforms.
As the state and security agencies assess the situation, public attention is likely to focus on whether the tragic events in Idofin spur stronger action to protect residents and confront the criminal networks that continue to operate with alarming impunity in parts of Kogi State.
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