Insecurity: Bandits unleash terror in Kogi, Kano, Sokoto, Kwara

Bandits in the early hours of yesterday attacked a Cherubim and Seraphim Church at Ejiba in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the pastor, his wife and several worshippers.

The attack came as bandits, in a fresh attack on Kano border community, Yankamaye village in Tsanyanwa Local Government Area of Kano State, killed a woman and abducted three other women, even as Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, charged security agencies to go after the marauding bandits who have been terrorising villages in Tsanyawa and Shanono LGAs of the state.

The marauding bandits also on Saturday night, attacked Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and abducted a bride, bridesmaids and several others who were preparing for a wedding the following day.

This is even as the bandits, who abducted Ojibara of Bayagan in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, in his farm Saturday morning, have demanded N150 million ransom from the community before he could be freed, while two of the six directors of the ministry of defence kidnapped in Kogi three weeks ago are still in the custody of their abductors.

The attack on the church in Kogi, it was learned, occurred during service, as worshippers scampered in different directions, following sporadic gunshots by the bandits.

The entire community was also said to have been thrown chaos as people ran to avoid being abducted or hit by stray bullets.

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The pastor of the church, popularly known as Orlando, was said to have been taken away, along with his wife and several other members of the church.

Residents described the incident as terrifying, saying the bandits stormed the community unexpectedly and left many people in shock.

The exact number of those abducted is yet to be confirmed, as efforts to get the police to release the figure at press time last night proved abortive.

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said: “Yes, I have information to that effect and I am also aware that the security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture are currently doing what they should do.

“The authorities of Yagba West Local Government Council are working hard with the security agencies to ensure those kidnapped are rescued alive. The perpetrators too already know that Kogi will do everything possible to secure every one of its citizens abducted.

“The governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, is coordinating activities and we will keep the press updated on the operations.

“We urge the citizens to be security conscious and also report suspicious movement and faces to security agencies. When you see something, say something.

“Worship centres on the outskirts should also reconsider worshiping in crime prone areas for now until the situation gets better.”