By Ademola Adekusibe
Thu, 1 Jan 2026
Stakeholders of Bunuland in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State have raised alarm over worsening insecurity in the area, saying bandits have killed at least 30 residents, sacked 21 villages, and abducted more than 50 people who are still being held captive.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday in Lokoja by leaders of the community under the aegis of the Bunu Development Association (BDA) during an interaction with journalists.
The President of the BDA, Pastor Kokawole Johnson Folorunshon, who spoke alongside the General Secretary, Comrade Durowaye Ayo, said Bunuland, once a peaceful agrarian community in central Nigeria, is now facing a grave and escalating security and humanitarian crisis.
According to him, the attacks, allegedly carried out by gunmen who have laid siege to the area for months, began as sporadic incidents but have evolved into sustained violence marked by killings, kidnappings, terror raids, and mass displacement of residents.
“The situation has left our people with nothing. They have lost their security, dignity, livelihood, culture, and future,” Folorunshon said.
He added that farmers are being attacked on their farms, travelers abducted on public roads, while women, children, and the elderly are fleeing their ancestral homes in fear.
“Entire villages are gradually emptying. This is no longer a local problem. It is a humanitarian emergency and a threat to community survival,” he said.
The BDA president stated that despite efforts by government authorities, the scale, frequency, and persistence of the attacks show that current responses remain insufficient, with public confidence steadily eroding.
He disclosed that out of 38 communities in Bunuland, residents of 21 have deserted their ancestral homes, 30 people have been killed, and over 51 residents remain in captivity.
“Top on the list are the 37 worshippers abducted recently during an attack on ECWA Church, Ayetoro-Kiri,” he said.
Also speaking, the President of the Bunu Elders Forum (BEF), Professor Olu Obafemi, represented by Elder Andrew Owonilepa, said the humanitarian crisis in the area requires urgent intervention from the federal, state, and local governments, as well as support from individuals and corporate bodies.
“Our farmers cannot access their farms. Our people have deserted their ancestral land. Foreigners have taken over the farms, cultivating crops and selling the produce back to us. We need urgent intervention,” he said.
In the same vein, the National President of Bunu Students and Youth Leader of Bunuland, Comrade Daniel Friday Aiyegboka, alongside the Bunuland Women Leader, Mrs Oluwabumi Aromiyo, represented by Evangelist Abigail Aledara, said residents are relocating in large numbers due to insecurity.
“People are relocating without restriction. Our children have abandoned schools. We cannot have peace when our children, some under eight years old, and our elders, above 80 years old, are still hiding in the bush,” Aledara said.
Communities reportedly deserted due to the attacks include Odo-Ape, Agadalepa, Oniriba, Ayetoro-Kiri, Olle, Ibori-Eni, and Idaka.
While commending the Kogi State Government and security agencies for their efforts so far, the community leaders appealed to the federal government to intervene urgently to restore peace and enable displaced residents to return to their ancestral homes.
They recalled that on December 14, bandits abducted over 37 worshippers during an attack on ECWA Church, Ayetoro-Kiri, and on December 19, more than 10 residents were kidnapped during an attack on Olle-Bunu. Many others abducted from Odo-Ape and surrounding villages are still being held after failing to meet ransom demands.
