Bandits kill 1, abduct 4 in Kaduna, Kogi, Ondo

Bandits have killed one person and abducted four others in separate attacks on communities in Kaduna, Kogi, and Ondo states. In Kaduna, gunmen struck Titin Bariki and Tsangaya in Makarfi town, Makarfi LGA, on Sunday night between 9:15 and 10:00 pm. Residents said they heard sporadic gunshots before discovering that a villager had been killed […]

Bandits have killed one person and abducted four others in separate attacks on communities in Kaduna, Kogi, and Ondo states.

In Kaduna, gunmen struck Titin Bariki and Tsangaya in Makarfi town, Makarfi LGA, on Sunday night between 9:15 and 10:00 pm.

Residents said they heard sporadic gunshots before discovering that a villager had been killed and his elderly mother abducted.

Abdulrahman Adamu Makarfi described the incident as “terrifying” and noted that such attacks are becoming increasingly frequent.

Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the attack and said two suspects have been arrested.

In Kogi State, a farmer identified as Raphael was abducted while working on his farm near Lawri River in Odo-Ere, Yagba West LGA, on Saturday, around noon.

His family raised the alarm after learning of the incident, and local vigilantes and hunters have been tracking the assailants into the forest.

Residents said the abduction adds to a growing wave of insecurity in the area, which has forced many farmers to live in fear.

In response, Yagba West LGA Chairman and Kogi State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Tosin Olokun, imposed a curfew to curb the surge in criminal activity. In Ondo, two people, including Joseph Kayode, Secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and a woman, Esther Akinlolu, were abducted on Monday at a farm settlement in Kajola, Ilu-Abo, Akure North LGA.

The victims were reportedly shot at by three masked gunmen before being whisked away to an unknown location, about five kilometres from Akure Airport.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the abductions and said investigations are ongoing to secure their release.

From Mohammed I. Yaba (Kaduna), Tijani Labaran (Lokoja) & Peter Moses (Lagos)