By Parrot Newspaper Gunmen Attack Kogi Community, Abduct Timber Contractor and Five Others
Rising Insecurity in Kogi: Another Violent Abduction Shakes Ayetoro-Kiri
Ayetoro-Kiri, a once-peaceful community in the Bunu district of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State, was thrown into turmoil on Thursday as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers stormed the town. The attackers abducted a prominent timber contractor, Enoch Johnson, along with five other residents, in yet another distressing episode of growing insecurity in the region.
Fear and Chaos as Gunmen Strike
The armed men, riding motorcycles and brandishing sophisticated weapons, launched their assault in broad daylight, firing sporadically into the air. The unexpected gunfire sent residents scrambling for safety, with many fleeing into the surrounding bushes.
According to eyewitness reports, the heavily armed assailants initially targeted the only mobile phone charging shop in the town, making away with over 50 mobile phones before proceeding with their abduction spree.
The victims of the attack include:
Enoch Johnson (Timber Contractor)
Maiye (Elder from the community)
Dupe Oshe (Young girl)
Kehinde Lot (Resident)
Tope Olorunshe (Resident)
One unidentified individual
Community in Distress as Attacks Persist
Local sources reveal that Ayetoro-Kiri has witnessed a disturbing increase in violent attacks in recent months. Many residents are now reluctant to visit their farmlands for fear of being ambushed.
Engr. Tolufashe Olusegun, the National President of the Aiyetoro-Kiri Development Association, decried the worsening security situation, stating, “This is one attack too many. Our people are living in fear. The government must act swiftly to end this terror. If nothing is done, more communities will suffer the same fate.”
The latest attack has left the town largely deserted, with many residents seeking refuge in neighboring villages. Fear and uncertainty have gripped the community, as many now contemplate relocating permanently if security does not improve.
Government’s Silence and Security Concerns
Efforts to obtain a response from the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to ASP William Aya, the command’s public relations officer, went unanswered.
This incident raises serious concerns about the state of security in Kogi and the larger North-Central region. The frequency of these attacks highlights the urgent need for a reinforced security strategy, including better intelligence gathering, community policing, and swift intervention by law enforcement agencies.
What Hope for Kogi Residents?
The repeated attacks on rural communities call for immediate action from both state and federal governments. Without adequate security measures, economic activities such as farming and timber trading—vital to the local economy—will continue to suffer.
Residents are urging the authorities to:
Deploy more security personnel to volatile areas.
Strengthen local vigilante groups.
Improve intelligence sharing between communities and law enforcement agencies.
Until concrete actions are taken, Kogi’s rural communities will remain vulnerable, living under the constant threat of violence and displacement.