Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Fear and anxiety have continued to grip residents of Mopa-Amuro Local Government Area in Kogi State following the abduction of a man identified as Mr. Aro, popularly known as "Erokun," who has now spent nine days in the hands of his captors. The kidnappers, who are demanding ₦4 million for his release, have maintained contact with the victim's family but have refused to lower their demand, leaving relatives and community leaders scrambling to raise the funds.
Mr. Aro was abducted by suspected terrorists on Saturday, July 25, 2026, while he was working on his farm in Mopa-Amuro LGA, according to information obtained by SaharaReporters. The exact circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, but the attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued the western part of Kogi State, where armed groups have increasingly targeted farmers and travellers. Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers established contact with the victim's son and demanded ₦4 million as ransom before they would release him. Family members disclosed that the abductors have since contacted them again, insisting that the ransom must be paid before Mr. Aro would regain his freedom.
The family, however, has pleaded with the kidnappers to grant them more time, explaining that they are unable to immediately raise the demanded amount due to severe financial constraints. According to Egbe Mekun Parrot, a local news medium, efforts are ongoing to mobilise funds from community members, relatives, and well-wishers in the hope of securing the victim's freedom. Community leaders, government officials, and security authorities have been informed of the situation, but there has been no positive update as of Monday, August 3, 2026, and the victim remains in captivity.
The abduction of Mr. Aro comes barely a week after four residents abducted in the neighbouring Oke-Ere community in Yagba West Local Government Area were rescued following a joint operation by local vigilantes and personnel of the Nigerian Army. In that operation, which took place on Sunday, August 2, security operatives engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, neutralising three of the suspects and rescuing all four victims. However, one vigilante lost his life in the encounter. The successful rescue in Oke-Ere had raised hopes that a similar operation could be mounted for Mr. Aro, but as of the time of this report, no such operation had been launched in Mopa-Amuro.
The recurring attacks in western Kogi State have left residents in a state of constant fear, with many calling on the government to take decisive action to address the security crisis. In February 2026, gunmen abducted six passengers and shot a commercial bus driver in Ijagbe, Mopamuro LGA, while in December 2025, coordinated attacks on Mopamuro communities left several people dead and many others abducted. The inability of security forces to prevent these incidents has raised questions about the effectiveness of the state's security architecture and the government's commitment to protecting its citizens.
The Kogi State Government has previously reaffirmed its policy of refusing to negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has repeatedly declared that there is "no room for ransom or negotiation with criminals in Kogi State." However, the family of Mr. Aro has been left with little choice but to appeal to the kidnappers for more time and to seek assistance from the community, as the alternative—leaving their loved one to an uncertain fate—is simply unthinkable. As the days pass and the family struggles to raise the ransom, the people of Mopa-Amuro are left to wonder when the government will act decisively to end the scourge of kidnapping that has turned their communities into zones of fear and despair.
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