By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Two people have been killed and another injured following an attack by unidentified gunmen on Ibado-Akpacha community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State late Tuesday night.
The armed men reportedly stormed the community between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday, November 5, 2025, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.
According to community sources, the victims—whose identities were yet to be confirmed at the time of filing this report—were local miners who relocated to the area about two years ago due to coal mining activities.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as horrifying, noting that the gunmen also carried out robbery operations during the assault.
“The criminals broke into houses and shops, carting away cash, consumables, and assorted goods,” he said. “We were terrified throughout the night. Some of us hid indoors, afraid to run or even make noise. It was only at dawn that we came out to assess the situation and discovered the victims.”
He further revealed that the attackers operated freely for nearly an hour without any intervention from security operatives.
“They carried sophisticated weapons, and no one could challenge them. If the police or local vigilante had confronted them, it could have resulted in more casualties,” he added.
The injured victim was said to have sustained gunshot wounds but managed to escape from the scene. He is reportedly receiving medical treatment at a nearby health facility.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Kogi State Police Command proved unsuccessful as calls and messages to the spokesperson were not returned at the time of publication.
Residents have appealed to the state government and security agencies to increase surveillance and deploy more personnel to the area to prevent future attacks.
The attack has once again raised concerns about the rising cases of insecurity in rural communities across Kogi State, particularly in Omala Local Government, which has witnessed several incidents of armed violence in recent months.
Authorities are yet to confirm the motive behind the latest assault, though community members suspect it may be linked to ongoing illegal mining operations in the region.
