Bandits have reportedly kidnapped the elder brother of the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area in Kogi State, Mr. , deepening fears over rising insecurity in the area.
The victim was abducted on Monday while working on his farm in . Local sources said the attackers arrived at the farm and took him away to an undisclosed location. As of the time of reporting, details about the circumstances of the kidnapping and the victim’s condition remained unclear.
Residents say the incident reflects a troubling pattern of banditry and abductions across rural communities in the area, with farmers increasingly targeted during routine activities.
The development comes amid a surge in similar attacks elsewhere in Kogi State. On Sunday, gunmen reportedly abducted more than 20 worshippers during an assault on the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, within . Witnesses said the assailants stormed the church during a service, firing shots to cause panic before seizing several congregants and fleeing through nearby bush paths.
The attack plunged the community into fear and confusion, with many residents expressing concern over the apparent ease with which armed groups operate in the region.
These incidents have intensified calls for stronger security measures in parts of , as repeated attacks on farms, rural settlements, and places of worship continue to unsettle residents and heighten anxiety about public safety.
