KABBA — The remaining three residents of the Olle-Bunu community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State regained their freedom on Saturday, January 31, 2026, after their abductors collected three motorcycles as a final ransom payment.
The release followed days of intense negotiations between community representatives and the kidnappers. While the bandits had earlier freed some captives from the same group, they held the final three victims to demand additional resources despite previous communal ransom payments of ₦12 million.
Worsening Insecurity in Kogi West
The Kabba/Bunu axis has faced a surge in violent crimes, with residents frequently lamenting the absence of a sustained security presence in rural areas. Recent major incidents include:
Aiyetoro-Kiri Church Attack: The final six abductees from a December 2024 church raid were only released on January 21, 2026, after “humongous” ransom payments.
Abduction of Traditional Chiefs: On January 22, 100-year-old Chief Samuel Fagbemi and another leader were seized from Ihale-Bunu by gunmen riding on over 20 motorcycles.
Highway Ambush: On Sunday evening, February 1, 2026, gunmen blocked the Anyigba–Ankpa highway, abducting several passengers and abandoning their vehicles.
Calls for Intervention
Local leaders and former political candidates, including Olayinka Braimoh, have called for immediate federal intervention, noting that several communities are being overrun by displaced bandits from the North-West and North-Central regions.
Although the Kogi State Police Command recently reported the arrest of over 100 suspected bandits, the practice of demanding “mobile ransom” such as motorcycles remains a growing and disturbing trend in the state.
