Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers attacked Ayetoro-Kiri in Bunu district, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting a timber contractor, Enoch Johnson, and five other residents.
The assailants, who arrived on motorcycles, struck on Thursday afternoon, firing sporadically. The gunfire sent residents fleeing into the nearby bush.
Among the abducted victims are an elder identified as Maiye, a secondary school security guard, a young girl named Dupe Oshe, Kehinde Lot, Tope Olorunshe, and one other person whose identity remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers first raided a phone charging shop, making away with over 50 mobile phones before seizing their hostages.
Oluwatoyin Emmanuel, a resident, said, “At first, we assumed it was security forces conducting an operation, but we soon realized it was an attack. People were running from the charging shop area.”
The president of the Aiyetoro-Kiri Development Association, Tolufashe Olusegun, decried the worsening insecurity in the region, saying residents now live in fear and cannot access their farms.
By Friday, much of the community had emptied, as many fled to safer locations.
Attempts to reach the Kogi State police spokesperson, ASP William Aya, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
