Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Aiyegunle Igun community in Bunu District, Kabba‑Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, has dismissed media reports claiming that 23 victims abducted during a bandit attack on Monday, 1 June 2026, have been rescued. The community insists that none of the captives – including two indigenes and several commuters – have regained their freedom.
In a clarification issued on behalf of the community, the former Acting Secretary of the Aiyegunle Igun Bunu Development Association (ABDA), Mr Sunday Daniel Adeniyi, confirmed that heavily armed bandits attacked the community between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. The assailants killed Elder James Obayomi, a respected headmaster serving under the Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). They also abducted two community members – a man and a woman – as well as an unspecified number of travellers passing through the area. The gunmen further rustled hundreds of cattle from nearby Fulani settlements before escaping.
“It is false to claim that those kidnapped have regained their freedom. Their families are still living in fear and uncertainty because their loved ones remain in the hands of the bandits,” Adeniyi said.
The community expressed alarm over recent reports that suggested 23 victims had been rescued, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading. Adeniyi explained that the photographs circulating on media platforms as images of rescued victims were actually of travellers who had escaped the attack and taken refuge in the community.
He further alleged that despite distress calls made to security agencies while the attack was ongoing, there was no immediate response. According to him, security personnel arrived only after the attackers had left the community. Instead of pursuing the perpetrators or tracing their movements – a task made feasible by the rustled cattle – the focus appeared to shift to gathering and photographing the escapees.
“We are shocked to see these pictures on the pages of the media as the rescued victims. As we write this report, none of the victims – either from the community or among the commuters – has been rescued,” Adeniyi stated.
The community called on relevant security authorities to strengthen rapid response mechanisms and ensure the protection of lives and property in Aiyegunle Igun and its environs. They also urged media organisations and members of the public to verify information before publication to avoid spreading misinformation or creating false hope for affected families.
As of Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the abducted victims remain in captivity, and security agencies have yet to announce any rescue breakthrough.
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