Residents of Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State on Sunday staged a mass protest over the rising wave of kidnappings and bandit attacks that have plagued the region in recent months.
The demonstration, held in front of the General Hospital, Isanlu, followed the killing of an elderly, sick woman who had been abducted by bandits on Saturday during an attack in Ilafin-Isanlu. According to eyewitnesses, the bandits allegedly murdered the woman after realising she was too frail to keep up as they attempted to move her through the forest.
The incident sparked outrage, with protesters blocking major roads, setting tyres ablaze, and chanting demands for urgent government intervention. Many residents gathered in clusters, expressing anger over the lack of security and what they described as the unchecked activities of criminal elements in the area.
Yagba East and Yagba West LGAs have witnessed a surge in kidnappings and armed robberies in recent months, with attacks occurring almost daily. Communities bordering Kwara State have been particularly vulnerable as bandits reportedly exploit the porous boundaries to carry out raids and evade security forces.
Local leaders have repeatedly called on both the state and federal governments to deploy additional security personnel and enhance protection for residents.
The latest tragedy comes on the heels of a separate attack reported by Akelicious, in which gunmen suspected to be bandits opened fire on a bus belonging to the National Congress of Evangelisation, Operation Good News, in Oyo State. The incident occurred Friday evening along the Eruku–Obbo Ile axis in the Ekiti LGA of Kwara State as the evangelism team travelled to Shagbe village in Ifelodun LGA.
Sources told Akelicious that the attackers emerged from both sides of the road and began shooting indiscriminately. One passenger was hit by a bullet, while the driver managed to speed away, averting what could have been a more devastating assault. The injured victim was taken to a nearby cottage hospital.
Residents say the Eruku–Yagba corridor has become a hotspot for recurring bandit attacks and kidnappings, with both communities suffering frequent violent incidents in recent months.
