According to Vanguard, families in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kabba/Bunu LGA of Kogi State say 30 worshippers remain in captivity weeks after gunmen attacked a church service and abducted congregants.
Community sources said some hostages were released after ransom payments, while families alleged the ordeal has led to deaths and hospitalisations among those who regained freedom.
The incident has renewed concerns about mass abductions along North-Central routes and the slow pace of rescue operations, with residents calling for stronger patrols and intelligence-led response.
Echotitbits take: The Ayetoro-Kiri account fits a troubling pattern: large-scale abductions, unclear rescue timelines, and communities left to negotiate survival. Watch for verified security-agency operational updates, a reconciled casualty figure, and whether Kogi sustains patrol reinforcement on the Kabba–Lokoja corridor.
Source: Facebook — January 4, 2026 (https://web.facebook.com/NigerianTribune/posts/three-dead-four-hospitalised-30-still-in-kidnappers-den-kogi-communitythe-people/1309715211184524/?_rdc=1&_rdr#)
Facebook January 4, 2026
Photo Credit: Facebook
