- Four persons critically ill
- Kabba/Bunu Chairman orders arrest of protesters
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Despite allegedly coughing out about N15 million as ransom payment to bandits, the people of Ayetoro-Kiri community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State have been left devastated with three out of the 37 victims kidnapped from the ECWA Church on December 14, 2025 now declared dead.
The community is currently in mourning following a statement by its Spokesperson, David Ampitan, confirming the tragedy on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Ampitan said: ”Recently, scores of residents were abducted by bandits. After painful ransom payment raised through communal contributions, only seven victims were released. Sadly, three of them were already dead on arrival, while four others are currently battling for their lives in critical condition at medical facilities.
“About thirty innocent citizens remain in captivity, their fate uncertain. This tragic development underscores the complete failure of security governance in the area.
“Rather than protect vulnerable communities or pursue the perpetrators, the Kogi State Government, acting through the Chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Government, Zaccheus Dare Micheal allegedly responded by tear-gassing and arresting peaceful protesters who were merely demanding safety, justice, and the rescue of their loved ones.
”It is both ironic and unacceptable that a government entrusted with the protection of lives and property would instead criminalise peaceful protest, while bandits roam freely, killing, kidnapping, and terrorising law-abiding citizens.
”Our people are tired of burying loved ones, tired of selling properties and contributing scarce resources to pay ransom, and tired of living under perpetual fear while those in authority remain indifferent.
”We hereby appeal, urgently, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, security agencies, and all relevant authorities to intervene decisively in Ayetoro-Kiri and the entire Bunu district. Immediate action must be taken to rescue those still in captivity, restore security, and hold accountable all officials who enable or ignore this humanitarian tragedy.
”The lives of Bunu people matter. Enough is sincerely ENOUGH”
Meanwhile, the Community’s statement comes on the heels of innocent protesters being arrested in Kabba, headquarters of the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area
Reports said the Council Chairman, Zaccheus Dare Micheal, ordered the arrest of all those who gathered peacefully on Friday along Kabba- Lokoja road to express their displeasure over the rate of bandits attacks in the council area.
Forefront News learnt the Chairman had last year warned that the Council will not allow people to protest on the streets over the spate of insecurity as not to disrupt public peace
Competent sources hinted defying the ‘no public protest’ order irked the Chairman who reportedly directed the police to disperse the protesters with tear gas, while arresting some of them as deterrent.
Some insiders accused Micheal, who is about finishing his first term as Council Chairman, of taking such drastic step against the people for self-preservation and to please the power that be in Lokoja, the State capital.
They claimed that having recently secured the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to seek re-election in the forthcoming council poll holding in October 2026, Michael is now working round the clock to suppress those considered as having opposed his emergence.
