Gunmen have launched fresh attacks on Buge village in Kakanda Ward, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing one person, injuring two others, and abducting nine residents in two separate invasions.
Community sources who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters on Thursday night confirmed that the attackers first struck on April 25, 2025, and returned four days later on April 28, unleashing terror on the small community under Budan. In the mayhem that followed, several children trying to flee reportedly drowned while crossing a nearby river.
“On April 25, 2025, the kidnappers struck Buge village, under Budan, abducting four people. Just four days later, on April 28, they invaded Buge village again, kidnapping five people this time around, injuring two and one person was killed bythe kidnappers. They’re demanding N150 million as ransom,” one of the sources said.
“Before the Buge attack, villagers had caught a Fulani man disguised in women’s clothing, suspected of wearing a dress belonging to a kidnapped girl from the village. He was taken to the Budan Emir’s palace.
“That same day, kidnappers called Buge, threatened to invade the village unless the man was freed. When villagers refused, the attackers struck as promised, resulting in the five being kidnapped.”
Another source said, “Villagers reported that children who tried to escape by crossing a river were drowned.
“It is also learnt that fear has spread to other neighbouring villages like Budon Tsofo and Tsanawa, that the kidnappers have informed these villages as their next targets, forcing the villagers to flee.
“The attackers operate boldly in daylight, often between 4 pm to 5pm, using motorcycles and guns.
“Their threats have left villagers in constant fear, with many abandoning their homes to survive.”
When SaharaReporters contacted the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command, SP William Aya, for comment, he was not reachable, as his phone was switched off at the time of filing this report.