Armed men suspected to be bandits have reportedly attacked Odo-Eri community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting several residents, including clergymen and their families.
Diaspora Digital Media understand that the incident occurred around 10pm on Wednesday when the attackers stormed the community, firing gunshots to scare residents before executing the abductions.
Meanwhile, police said rescue operations have been intensified for the victims, who were abducted alongside some of their family members.
Although the actual number of those abducted remains unclear, but a source disclosed that at least 20 individuals were kidnapped.
The bandits were said to have escaped through Abewo Road, heading in the direction of Kwara State.
While speaking on the incident, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kogi State, Apostle Olaniyan Adebayo, revealed that the Department of State Services had issued a prior security alert, prompting precautionary steps among churches in certain parts of the state.
Adebayo said, “The DSS called me and asked me to call the churches in those places based on the intelligence report they had. We alerted all the churches on Wednesday and Thursday concerning it. We sent messages to those churches through their coordinators in the local government.”
He added that the warning enabled some church leaders and congregants to stay alert and take preventive measures.
