Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Armed bandits reportedly abducted two individuals in Oke-Ere, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, on the morning of February 10, 2026, according to local sources and community reports. The victims were reportedly seized while working on a farm in the area.
One of the abducted individuals has been identified as a Hausa farmer known locally as “Sarki.” The second victim is said to be an indigenous resident of Oke-Ere. Eyewitnesses told Egbe Mekun Parrot, a community news platform, that the attack took place without warning, with the assailants emerging from nearby forest paths that have seen increased bandit activity in recent days.
Further intelligence confirmed to Egbe Mekun Parrot indicates a disturbing pattern of armed bandit movements along the forest corridors linking Ogbe, Koro, and Oke-Ere, heightening local security concerns. Residents report repeated sightings of unidentified armed men moving through these forest trails, prompting widespread anxiety and calls for urgent security intervention.
Security sources within the community have urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to local security operatives, including vigilante groups and state law enforcement. Community leaders say that the increasing frequency of bandit sightings suggests that criminal elements may be using the forested areas as staging grounds for attacks on farms and isolated settlements.
The abduction in Oke-Ere adds to a growing list of kidnapping incidents in parts of Kogi and neighbouring states, where rural farming communities remain vulnerable due to limited security presence and difficult terrain that favours ambushes by armed groups. In recent months, similar attacks on farms and travellers have been reported across the North Central region, often resulting in hostage-taking for ransom.
Local vigilante groups and community watch teams have stepped up patrols in response, but residents continue to call on the Kogi State Police Command and other security agencies to increase patrols, establish checkpoints, and deploy rapid-response units to deter further incursions.
At present, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Family members of the abducted individuals are said to be deeply distressed and are appealing for swift action to secure the safe release of their loved ones.
As the situation unfolds, residents of Oke-Ere and surrounding communities have been advised to avoid isolated locations, particularly farms near forested paths, and to immediately notify security operatives of any suspicious behaviour or armed movements.
The abduction underscores persistent security challenges in rural parts of Kogi State, where banditry, kidnappings, and armed ambushes continue to affect the daily lives and livelihoods of farmers and residents.
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