From Ahmed Muhammed Danasabe, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has confirmed the killing of four suspected bandits and the abduction of 13 worshippers during an attack on an ECWA church in Kiri community, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this on Monday in Lokoja, following the incident which occurred during Sunday service.
Fanwo said the bandits stormed the church but were confronted by local hunters, who killed four of the attackers, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
He added that 13 worshippers were kidnapped during the attack, noting that security operatives and local hunters were already combing nearby forests to rescue the victims.
According to him, criminal pressure from neighbouring Niger and Kwara states has pushed bandits towards parts of Kogi, although the state government has activated a coordinated security response to contain the threat.
“We are quite hopeful that the kidnapped persons will be rescued,” Fanwo said.
He confirmed that troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade and personnel of the Kogi State Police Command had been deployed to the area to restore security.
Fanwo also revealed that the Department of State Services was providing intelligence support, while the state government had requested air support from the Nigerian Air Force to complement ground operations.
“The Governor, His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo, is engaging the service chiefs to ensure an air raid of the forest to support the Army, Police and local hunters,” he said.
Commending the bravery of the local hunters, the commissioner assured residents that the government remained in control of the situation.
“What they are doing now is attacking soft targets like churches, but their movement has been restricted,” he said.
Fanwo stressed that the state government was tightening security across Kogi, expressing confidence that security forces were gaining the upper hand against criminal elements.
