Gunmen reportedly abducted an unspecified number of worshippers attending a night vigil on a remote mountain in the Egbola area, along Agbaja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The attack occurred on Friday night during a prayer session held on the mountain, a location known for spiritual gatherings by Christian faithful. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants stormed the area, firing sporadically to disperse and intimidate the worshippers before abducting several of them into the nearby bush.
Also Read: Plateau, Benue Killings: APC Gov Alia Issues Threat, Tinubu Shifts Blame to PDP Gov Mutfwang
Local sources confirmed that a woman identified as Mary Adams Gure was rescued following the prompt intervention of operatives from the state’s vigilante service. The vigilantes, upon receiving information about the attack, mobilized swiftly to the scene and engaged the gunmen in a gun duel. Gure reportedly escaped amidst the ensuing chaos.
A member of the vigilante group, who spoke under anonymity, stated:
“The vigilantes were mobilized quickly in response to the attack, and in the process, Gure was rescued. A search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to locate the remaining abducted faithful.”
The exact number of abducted individuals remains unknown as of the time of this report. Efforts by journalists to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to his mobile line went unanswered.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Kogi State, particularly in rural and mountainous regions where criminal elements often operate with impunity.
The affected community has called on the state government and security agencies to intensify patrols and surveillance in the area to prevent future attacks.
