Several people are feared dead following coordinated attacks by suspected bandits on communities in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State in the early hours of Sunday.
The assaults, which reportedly began around 4:00 a.m., targeted Oke-Agi and Ilai communities almost simultaneously, leaving residents dead, others injured, and some abducted.
Sources within the communities said the attackers operated for more than an hour before distress calls could be successfully made, raising concerns about the delayed security response.
In the first incident, Jamroro settlement—situated between Oke-Agi and Takete Isao and predominantly inhabited by Tiv residents—came under heavy attack. Two people were confirmed killed, while three others sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The second attack occurred in a Bassa community close to Ilai Grammar School, less than one kilometre from Ilai town. One person was reportedly killed during the raid, and three residents were abducted by the assailants.
The attacks were confirmed by the Chairman of Mopamuro Local Government Area, Hon. Ademola Bello, as well as traditional rulers and community leaders from Oke-Agi and Ilai.
Residents expressed deep frustration over what they described as a slow response from security agencies, noting that the attackers moved freely for an extended period without resistance.
The renewed violence has heightened fear across Mopamuro and neighbouring areas, with residents calling on the government and security agencies to urgently deploy effective measures to halt the growing wave of coordinated bandit attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, local government officials were said to be at the hospital attending to those injured.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Ayah, for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone lines were unreachable.
