Gunmen have carried out two violent raids on Buge village in Kakanda Ward, Lokoja LGA of Kogi State, killing one resident, wounding two others, and abducting nine people across the separate attacks.
Local sources told SaharaReporters that the armed men first stormed the village on April 25, 2025, kidnapping four individuals.
They returned on April 28, escalating the violence by abducting five more people, injuring two villagers, and killing one. The attackers are said to be demanding a ransom of N150 million.
The assaults reportedly followed the arrest of a Fulani man found dressed in women’s clothing, suspected to be wearing an outfit belonging to a previously kidnapped girl. He was handed over to the Budan Emir’s palace.
That same day, the kidnappers contacted Buge residents with threats to strike if the man wasn’t released. When the community refused, the second attack occurred as warned.
Tragically, in the chaos, several children trying to escape reportedly drowned while crossing a river. Fear has now gripped nearby villages, including Budon Tsofo and Tsanawa, where residents have been warned they are next. Many have since fled their homes.
Witnesses say the attackers move on motorcycles and operate during daylight hours, typically around 4 to 5 p.m.
At the time of filing this report, Kogi police spokesperson SP William Aya could not be reached, as his phone remained switched off.