By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Gunmen have abducted nine persons in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, prompting residents to call for the deployment of drones and aerial surveillance to support security operations in the area.The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at Inele-Ugoh, Igah Ikeje community, where armed men reportedly stormed the village in large numbers and carried out coordinated abductions. Among the victims were four mourners—a woman and her three children—who were said to be travelling to a neighbouring community to attend a burial.According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen intercepted the family along the road, overpowered them, and forced them into the surrounding forest. Five other victims were reportedly abducted from their farms during the same operation.Residents described the attackers as heavily armed and numbering over 40, a situation that allegedly deterred local vigilante groups from confronting them. Witnesses said the scale of the operation and the sophistication of the weapons created fear and confusion within the community.
Following the attack, community members reportedly sent a distress call to troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, stationed at a checkpoint within the area. However, the soldiers were said to have arrived after the gunmen had already retreated into the forest with their captives.Although security operatives, alongside local vigilantes, are currently combing nearby forests in search of the abducted victims, residents expressed concern that ground patrols alone may not be sufficient. They stressed the need for aerial support to enhance surveillance and tracking efforts.
A local community police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the abductors operate in large, mobile groups and frequently change locations to evade capture. “These bandits move in large numbers, sometimes as many as 200, splitting into smaller units. They do not stay in one place and constantly relocate their captives,” the officer said.He added that effective rescue operations would require aerial intelligence. “Troops can only succeed with air support. The deployment of drones or police helicopters from Lokoja is crucial to flushing out these criminals from our forests,” he said.Community members warned that the continued presence of armed groups in the area could disrupt daily life and festive activities. “We will not enjoy Christmas if these criminals remain in our forests,” a resident said.
Meanwhile, the Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW) reported an increase in kidnapping incidents across Olamaboro communities in recent weeks. According to the group, criminal elements are allegedly infiltrating the area from neighbouring states and operating with high-level coordination.“The gunmen are heavily armed and clearly organised. Their activities have intensified recently, especially around rural communities,” a KENW official said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming the attack. Repeated attempts to reach police authorities for comment were unsuccessful.Residents continue to appeal to state and federal authorities for urgent intervention, including enhanced surveillance, increased troop deployment, and improved intelligence gathering, to secure the release of the abducted victims and restore peace to the area.
