Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a deeply distressing sequence of events stemming from a violent raid in Odo-Ere community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigerian authorities and local sources have confirmed the release of one of the abducted victims and the death of another, while fears persist for the safety of remaining hostages still in captivity. The attack, which occurred on the evening of Sunday, December 28, 2025, remains emblematic of the ongoing insecurity challenges faced by communities in Kogi’s Okun region.
According to community and resident accounts, Engr. Shina Ajere was freed on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Sanbogiri, near Okunran, following what sources describe as the payment of an undisclosed ransom. The terms and amount of the payment have not been made public, but the release ends nearly five weeks of captivity for Ajere, whose ordeal highlighted the vulnerability of local leaders and residents amid a spate of banditry across the state.
While Ajere’s release brings relief to some, the human toll of the Odo-Ere abduction is grim. Mr. Kehinde Afolabi, one of the four individuals initially seized during the attack, has been confirmed dead. Family members and community sources report that Afolabi died a few days after his abduction while being held in the bandits’ camp; the precise circumstances of his death have yet to be independently verified.
Two other victims remain unaccounted for and are still believed to be held by the armed gang. They are identified as Damiola Ogun and the daughter of a woman known within the community as Omo Oloyan. Their continued captivity has heightened distress among relatives and neighbours, who are appealing to security agencies for intensified efforts to secure their safe release.
The abduction of the four residents at Odo-Ere occurred as part of a violent bandit attack that sent shockwaves through the community. Residents reported that the assailants struck late in the evening of December 28, gunshots ringing through the town and prompting many families to flee their homes in fear. Initial local reporting identified four victims — Engr. Shina Ajere, Mr. Kehinde Afolabi, Damiola Ogun, and a woman popularly referred to as Iya Lara — although some residents feared additional abductions beyond these confirmed cases.
The wave of violence in Yagba West is part of a broader pattern of bandit-related attacks that have afflicted multiple communities in Kogi State. In December alone, armed groups allegedly struck an ECWA church in Ayetoro Kiri, leaving at least one person dead and several worshippers abducted, and earlier incidents at a Cherubim and Seraphim church in Ejiba saw congregants taken during services. These assaults have compounded existing anxieties and underscored the precarious security environment in many rural areas.
Residents of Odo-Ere and surrounding communities have voiced significant concern about ongoing insecurity, calling for sustained deployment of security forces and more proactive measures to prevent future raids. The lack of a consistent security presence and the perceived ease with which armed groups can operate in the area have been cited by locals as contributing factors to the repeated incursions.
Local leaders and families have underscored the psychological and economic strain that the attacks have inflicted. Many residents fled to nearby towns for safety in the days after the raid, and families of those still missing have described sleepless nights and constant worry for their loved ones’ wellbeing. The social fabric in Odo-Ere has been stretched thin as neighbours, relatives, and friends grapple with both fear and frustration.
The situation has drawn attention from state and federal security agencies, and although coordinated rescue operations are typical responses to abduction cases, specifics about movements to find Ogun and the other remaining hostage have not been publicly disclosed. Security analysts emphasise that banditry in the North-Central region often involves fluid group dynamics, dense terrain, and cross-border movement, making tracking and engagement by security forces complex and resource-intensive.
Kogi State officials, including Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, have on multiple occasions reaffirmed their commitment to combating banditry and improving safety across the state. Recent state government actions have included demolishing confirmed bandit hideouts, arresting suspected criminals, and enhancing intelligence sharing with security agencies, reflecting a multi-pronged approach to address insecurity. However, residents maintain that more needs to be done to translate policy commitments into tangible protection on the ground.
Families of victims continue to urge cooperation between security operatives, local vigilante groups, and community leaders to locate and negotiate for the release of those still in captivity. The human cost of unresolved abductions reverberates through Odo-Ere, where the loss of Afolabi and the prolonged uncertainty over Ogun’s and Omo Oloyan’s daughter’s fate have deep emotional and socio-economic repercussions.
As Nigeria’s security establishment grapples with simultaneous threats across multiple states, including kidnappings, armed banditry, and attacks on religious institutions, incidents like the Odo-Ere raid illustrate the acute vulnerability of rural populations and the urgent need for sustained, well-resourced, and community-informed responses. For the people of Odo-Ere, the release of Engr. Shina Ajere offers a measure of hope, but the ordeal underscores the persistent risks faced by those living in areas where criminal networks operate with relative impunity.
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