30 Killed, 21 Communities displaced by gunmen attacks in Kogi

Stakeholders from Bunuland in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State have raised alarm over sustained bandit attacks that have claimed the lives of no fewer than 30 residents, forced the abandonment of 21 villages, and left more than 50 persons in captivity.

Leaders of the community, operating under the Bunu Development Association (BDA), disclosed this on Wednesday during an interaction with journalists in Lokoja. They attributed the worsening insecurity to persistent assaults by gunmen who, according to them, have besieged the area for several months.

The BDA President explained that what began as sporadic attacks had escalated into prolonged and organised violence characterised by killings, mass kidnappings, terror raids and the large-scale displacement of residents. He said the situation has stripped the people of their safety, livelihoods, cultural heritage and sense of dignity.

According to the association, the crisis has reached an alarming level, with entire communities gradually becoming deserted. Of the 38 settlements in Bunuland, 21 have been completely abandoned, while 30 residents have been killed and over 51 persons remain in captivity. He added that the recent abduction of 37 worshippers at an ECWA Church in Ayetoro-Kiri underscores the severity of the situation.

The community leaders lamented that farmers can no longer access their farmlands due to fear of attacks, noting that displaced residents now depend on outsiders who have taken over abandoned farms, cultivate the land and sell produce back to the original owners. They described the development as both humiliating and economically devastating.

Calling for urgent intervention, the BDA warned that the unchecked violence has triggered mass relocation, disrupted education, and forced vulnerable groups, including children under eight years and elderly persons above 80 years, to remain in hiding in surrounding bushes.

The association listed several affected communities, including Odo-Ape, Agadalepa, Oniriba, Ayetoro-Kiri, Ole, Ibori-Eni and Idaka, where residents have fled their ancestral homes due to persistent bandit attacks.

The leaders appealed to the government at all levels, security agencies and relevant stakeholders to act decisively, describing the crisis as a humanitarian emergency and a direct threat to the survival of Bunuland communities.