Fear gripped Okunran in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on the evening of December 13, 2025, after armed bandits stormed the community around 7:00 p.m., abducting a man identified as Hausa. The raid, which occurred in the heart of the town, sparked panic, forcing residents to stay indoors.

Okunran is among several communities in Yagba West recently affected by banditry and kidnappings, raising concerns about safety, particularly during evening hours. Residents have called for increased security measures to prevent further attacks.

The latest abduction follows a series of similar incidents in Kogi State. Last Friday, a farmer known as Dada Babatege, or “Old Soldier,” was kidnapped from his farm behind St. Kizito’s College in Isanlu, Yagba East. The kidnappers seized him in broad daylight and disappeared into nearby bushes before any help could arrive.

In a separate incident on November 30, bandits attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West, abducting 14 worshippers, including the presiding pastor, Orlando, and six children from his household. Among the victims were a three-week-old baby and a four-month-old infant. The kidnappers initially demanded ₦500 million in ransom, later reducing it to ₦200 million, giving the families a two-day ultimatum and threatening unspecified consequences if the demand was not met.

These attacks highlight the escalating insecurity in Kogi State, especially in Yagba East and West, where communities continue to face repeated raids and kidnappings despite ongoing appeals for stronger security interventions.