Kogi Bandit Attack Leaves One Dead, 30 Abducted as Troops Rescue 23 in Early Morning Raid

Kogi State, Nigeria – Residents of Ayegunle Bunu in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State were thrown into panic in the early hours of Monday following a deadly bandit attack that reportedly claimed one life and led to the abduction of more than 30 people. According to preliminary reports, the attack occurred at about 2:25 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, with one person reportedly killed during the incident, while another sustained injuries. The bandits, who operated for several minutes before fleeing with dozens of captives, barricaded the major road and intercepted travellers passing through the community.

Sources within the community disclosed that two residents of Ayegunle Bunu—a man described as a pastor and a woman—were among those kidnapped by the attackers. The remaining victims were said to be passengers travelling in a commercial bus that was intercepted by the gunmen while passing through the area. The bandits reportedly forced the passengers out of the vehicle at gunpoint before marching them into nearby bushes.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident. Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi, while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the Passing-Out Parade of 565 newly trained police constables at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja, said investigations are ongoing and that his men have since launched efforts to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Oyiza Afusat Salihu, also confirmed that security agencies are working around the clock to rescue the kidnapped victims. She assured residents that the command has deployed additional tactical units to the area to prevent further attacks and ensure the safe return of those abducted.

In a major development following the attack, troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army deployed in Kabba responded swiftly to distress calls and successfully rescued 23 kidnapped passengers. According to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when the attackers barricaded the road and abducted an unspecified number of passengers. Security sources revealed that the attack occurred around 3:30 a.m. , with armed men blocking the road and attacking commuters travelling along the route.

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When troops arrived at the scene, the assailants had already fled into the surrounding forest. However, soldiers discovered two dead bodies and five injured victims at the scene, as well as two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside. The vehicles appeared to have been hurriedly deserted as passengers fled or were taken captive. A security source familiar with the operation said: “The troops immediately launched a pursuit operation along the kidnappers’ withdrawal routes, leading to the rescue of 23 passengers who had been abandoned due to the sustained pressure from the military.” The injured victims were evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, for medical attention. Hospital sources confirmed that the five injured persons were receiving treatment and were in stable condition as of Monday afternoon.

Military sources confirmed that operations are ongoing to track down the fleeing attackers and rescue any remaining victims still in captivity. Surveillance and clearance operations have been intensified in the area to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of road users travelling through the Ayegunle Bunu axis. The Ayegunle–Bunu axis has reportedly recorded repeated cases of kidnapping and banditry in recent times, prompting a stronger military response to secure the corridor. The Nigerian Army has pledged to maintain pressure on criminal elements operating along major highways in Kogi State.

Residents of Ayegunle Bunu and surrounding communities have been left in shock and fear following the brazen attack. The assault, which marked a violent start to the month of June, has raised fresh concerns about the deteriorating security situation along major highways and rural communities in Kogi State. One resident, who pleaded anonymity for safety reasons, told reporters: “We heard gunshots around 2 a.m. and everyone ran inside. By the time we came out in the morning, we learned that one of our neighbours had been killed and many people, including our pastor, had been taken away. We are living in constant fear.”

The latest incident comes barely 24 hours after the Kogi State Government suspended the Echane Festival in Ebiraland, citing security concerns. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the suspension followed credible intelligence indicating that activities associated with the festival could threaten public peace.

Key facts from the attack include the following: the date of the attack was Monday, June 1, 2026; the time was approximately 2:25 a.m. according to preliminary reports or 3:30 a.m. according to army operational reports; the location was Ayegunle Bunu community, Kabba-Bunu LGA, Kogi State; casualties included one confirmed dead and five injured who are receiving treatment; over 30 people were abducted including a pastor and a woman from the community plus commercial bus passengers; 23 passengers were rescued by Nigerian Army troops; two Toyota commercial buses and one HOWO truck were recovered; and a manhunt is ongoing as security agencies work to rescue remaining victims.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Government had not issued an official statement on the incident. Efforts are ongoing to determine the exact number of abducted persons and gather further details surrounding the attack. Security agencies have urged residents to remain calm and report any suspicious movements in their communities to the nearest police station or military formation.

Kogi Bandit Attack Leaves One Dead, 30 Abducted as Troops Rescue 23 in Early Morning Raid

Oyo Abduction: Principal in Captivity Warns Military Action Could Trigger Massacre of 46 Hostages

Oyo State, Nigeria – A fresh video released by kidnappers holding 46 victims in Oyo State has shown one of the abductees, school principal Rachael Alamu, appealing directly to the Federal Government to pursue dialogue instead of military force, warning that a planned rescue operation could get them all killed. The video was uploaded online after President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to secure the release of the victims, who have been held captive by an armed gang for over two weeks.

Speaking under duress from an undisclosed location within a forest in Oriire Local Government Area, Alamu said the kidnappers became agitated following reports that security operatives had been sent into the area. “We learned that yesterday some army was sent, and that has compounded our problems. It has added to our troubles,” she said in the video. According to the principal, the development has heightened tensions inside the kidnappers’ camp, with the abductors allegedly threatening retaliation if security forces attempt to enter the bush.

In a desperate plea, Alamu revealed that the captors had already selected one hostage for possible execution, accusing authorities of relying on force rather than engaging through negotiations. “Please, I am here again to beg the government. President Tinubu and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to please help us and dialogue with these people. They should not use force. The force they have used yesterday has caused us so much. In fact, one of us has been picked that they are going to kill him because the government tried to help us by force,” she said. She appealed directly to government officials and security agencies to consider non-military options. “We are pleading with you not to force yourself into the bush, but please call them and dialogue with them so that the problem can be solved, and we will be able to go home alive.”

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The abductee further alleged that the kidnappers had threatened to kill all the victims if security personnel returned to the area. “They have promised to kill all of us if any of the armies come into the bush again. Please, we are pleading with you. We are begging you in the name of God,” she added.

The mass kidnapping occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen simultaneously raided three schools in Oriire Local Government Area: Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School; and L.A. Primary School. According to community leaders and official reports, 46 people were taken hostage. This includes seven teachers and 39 students, with some reports indicating the number of children could be as high as 46 depending on the source. The victims range in age from just two years old to 16 years old. Among the abducted is a two-year-old toddler, Christianah Akanbi, and a nursing mother, Mary Akanbi, who is one of the teachers.

In response to the crisis, President Tinubu authorized a significant security surge in Oyo State. A high-powered delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa visited the affected communities. The President has approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 local forest guards to secure forest corridors often used as hideouts by criminal gangs. Additionally, a specialized tactical unit has been deployed to Ogbomoso to coordinate the rescue effort. However, authorities have stated that the operation will be “intelligence-led” to prioritize the safety of the hostages. The Presidency has also defended its strategy of operational secrecy, arguing that public updates could compromise security efforts. “The kidnappers are on social media with us and follow the trends to get updates,” a presidential aide said.

The trauma of the event has paralyzed normal life in Oyo State. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declared an indefinite, open-ended strike starting Monday, June 1, protesting against the continued detention of their colleagues and students. Parents have kept children home from school, and there is widespread fear across the affected communities.

Oyo Abduction: Principal in Captivity Warns Military Action Could Trigger Massacre of 46 Hostages

Oyo Abduction: Sowore Issues Tinubu Ultimatum, Threatens to Occupy Aso Rock

ABUJA – Human rights activist and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) , Omoyele Sowore, has threatened to lead a mass protest to occupy the Presidential Villa in Abuja if the Federal Government fails to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.

In a strongly worded post on X on Sunday, Sowore issued a direct ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security chiefs, demanding swift action to rescue the victims who have been in captivity since May 15, 2026.

“If Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his service chiefs fail to track down and secure the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and other kidnapped people, we will have no choice but to occupy Aso Rock Villa this week!” Sowore wrote.

The activist described the ongoing kidnapping crisis as “the new political business in Nigeria” and questioned why children had become targets for criminal groups. He accused the government of failing to protect citizens and warned that public anger was growing over repeated attacks on schools and communities across the country.

Gunmen attacked three schools simultaneously in the rural communities of Ahoro-Esin-Ile, Yawota, and Alawusa in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026. The targeted schools included Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. The attackers, numbering about 12, came on motorcycles and struck around 9:30 a.m., abducting no fewer than 46 schoolchildren and teachers.

During the attack, an assistant head teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A commercial motorcyclist was also killed after refusing to surrender his motorcycle. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) condemned the beheading, with National President Bishop Francis Wale Oke stating: “Our hearts are bleeding. We watched with horror the video released by the perpetrators, showing our brother—a devoted educator—bound, humiliated, and beheaded.”

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The abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has made emotional appeals from captivity, begging President Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to prioritise negotiation over the use of force.

Sowore has been highly critical of President Tinubu’s handling of the security crisis, describing the president as failing to take decisive action despite recurring mass abductions across the country. He noted that following killings in Plateau State, Tinubu promised to deploy 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras, yet violence continues. After the Oyo abduction, the president announced plans to deploy 1,000 forest guards, “yet kidnappings persist,” he argued.

The activist said he was prepared to mobilise Nigerians to occupy the Presidential Villa if urgent action was not taken to rescue the victims. “We are going to Aso Rock if these children are not rescued,” he said, adding that citizens could no longer remain silent while kidnappings continued across the country.

Sowore’s proposed “Occupy Aso Rock” protest appears aimed at increasing pressure on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward rescuing the victims and tackling the wider problem of kidnapping across the country. He has been involved in several protests and campaigns on governance and human rights issues and has frequently criticised authorities over their handling of security matters.

The abduction has triggered widespread concern and condemnation from political leaders, activists, community groups, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), which has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite strike beginning Monday, June 1, 2026, over the continued captivity of their colleagues and students. The NUT has also ordered its state wings nationwide to stage solidarity rallies on Tuesday, June 2, to demand the unconditional release of the abducted victims. The union expressed deep concern over what it described as the “horrifying, inhumane and traumatic conditions” being endured by the abducted teachers and students.

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Yoruba leader Gani Adams has also warned that southwest states must strengthen their security systems to confront growing threats from kidnappers and armed gangs.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has, however, cautioned against protests, warning that public demonstrations could embolden the kidnappers and undermine ongoing rescue efforts. “This is not the time for protests. Terrorists and bandits do not think like normal people. If they did, they would not be carrying out such acts. Protests at this moment may only fuel their ego,” Makinde said.

The governor also disclosed that more than 200 operatives of the Amotekun Corps have lost their lives in the fight against insecurity in Oyo State. “People may not know the sacrifices they make. They go into dangerous situations and many do not return. May God help us put an end to the bloodshed in our state and country,” the governor said.

On Sunday, President Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to the affected communities, led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and Special Adviser Sunday Dare.

The President approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State in partnership with the state government and directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free the abducted victims. The delegation also informed community leaders that their request for the establishment of a military base in the area would be transmitted to the President for consideration.

Gbajabiamila assured residents: “Mr President is deeply troubled by this incident. Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely. He has issued all necessary directives and is providing every support required by our security agencies to achieve that objective.”

As of the time of reporting, rescue operations were ongoing, with security agencies working to secure the safe return of all abducted victims. The Federal Government has yet to officially respond to Sowore’s ultimatum.

Oyo Abduction: Sowore Issues Tinubu Ultimatum, Threatens to Occupy Aso Rock