Family’s Pastor, Wife, Three Children Among Dozens Abducted as Bandits Turn Kogi Village into Ghost Town

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has issued an urgent call for the deployment of additional security forces to Yagba West Local Government Area after heavily armed bandits invaded Odo‑Eri community, abducting a Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor, his wife, his three children, and more than a dozen other residents in a late‑night raid. The attack, which occurred at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, has pushed the agrarian community to the brink of collapse, with hundreds of residents fleeing their homes and local officials admitting that the security situation is now “critical.” According to a statement by the Senator’s media office on Thursday, the bandits operated for over two hours, shooting sporadically to disperse any resistance before systematically moving from house to house to select their victims. The pastor’s family was reportedly taken from their residence near the church premises, while other abductees include farmers, traders, and at least four children under the age of twelve.

Senator Karimi, who has been in direct contact with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector‑General of Police, described the attack as “the last kick of the bandits” after weeks of sustained military pressure that had severely degraded their operations in the area. “This renewed assault must not be allowed to undermine the gains made by government and security forces,” Karimi said in the statement. He urged security operatives to “go all out” to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators, while assuring residents that the government remains committed to their protection. “Our security agencies are not resting on their oars. They have proven to be equal to the task, and I am confident that this recent attack will be short‑lived and that the culprits will be brought to justice,” the Senator added.

The raid on Odo‑Eri is the latest and most audacious in a series of attacks that have transformed Yagba West into one of Kogi State’s most volatile security flashpoints. Since the beginning of 2026, armed gangs have operated with increasing impunity across the local government area, exploiting the region’s dense forest corridors and porous borders with Kwara, Ekiti, and Niger states. In February 2026, two cashew farmers were killed in separate attacks in Odo‑Eri and Ejiba, while in March, a resident was shot and several others abducted during a raid on the Lawiri River area. The state government was forced to impose a dusk‑to‑dawn curfew and close schools across the local government area, but the measures have failed to stop the violence. Local vigilantes and troops of the 12 Brigade have conducted clearance operations, arrested suspected logistics suppliers, and neutralised several bandits, yet the criminal networks have proven resilient.

The abduction of an entire pastoral family has sent shockwaves through the Christian community in Kogi West, which has endured a pattern of targeted attacks on churches and clergy. In November 2025, gunmen raided a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in nearby Ejiba, kidnapping the pastor, his wife, and several worshippers. In December 2025, armed men abducted 37 parishioners from an ECWA church in Ayetoro‑Kiri, holding them for weeks before a negotiated release. The attack on the RCCG pastor’s family, however, marks the first time bandits have deliberately targeted the residential compound of a clergyman in the area, raising concerns about a new phase of intimidation against religious leaders.

Residents of Odo‑Eri, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, described scenes of chaos and helplessness as the bandits swept through the community. “They came like soldiers, shouting and shooting into the air,” one resident told local reporters. “We ran into the bush, but many could not escape because they had their children with them. The pastor and his family lived near the church. They did not stand a chance.” Another resident said the bandits appeared to have prior knowledge of the community’s layout, moving directly to the homes of specific individuals. “This was not a random attack. They knew who they were looking for,” the resident said.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident but has not released official casualty figures or the exact number of abductees. A police source, speaking off the record, said the command was awaiting reinforcement from the Police Mobile Force before launching a rescue operation due to the bandits’ superior firepower and the challenging terrain. “The area is heavily forested, and the bandits have multiple escape routes. We are coordinating with the military, but we need to move carefully to avoid endangering the victims,” the source explained. As of Thursday evening, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and no ransom demand has been publicly issued.

The attack has reignited calls for the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Kogi West and deploy additional troops to secure the border corridors that criminal elements use to evade capture. Senator Karimi, while stopping short of calling for a state of emergency, reiterated his appeal for enhanced funding and logistics for security agencies operating in the area. “Our gallant soldiers and police officers are doing their best with the limited resources available to them. But they need more boots on the ground, better intelligence, and improved mobility to effectively protect our communities,” he said.

For the families of the abducted, the hours have turned into an agonising wait. The wife of one of the kidnapped farmers told reporters that her husband had left their home to check on his farm when the bandits seized him. “I have not slept. I keep calling his phone, but it is switched off. The government must do something. These are our husbands, our fathers, our children,” she said. As the sun sets over Odo‑Eri, the community remains a ghost of itself, its streets deserted, its shops shuttered, and its people huddled in fear. The question on everyone’s lips is not whether the bandits will strike again, but when. And for the pastor’s family, still in captivity, every passing minute brings fresh uncertainty.

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