In a chilling escalation of violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region, bandits have killed three residents in Kogi State’s Adavi Local Government Area and abducted the Adogu of Eganyi, HRH Alhaji Muhammed Adamu, demanding ₦12 million for his release. The attack, reported on May 17, 2025, has heightened fears of insecurity in a state already grappling with kidnappings and communal clashes.
The incident occurred in Eganyi, a rural community 50 kilometers from Lokoja, when armed bandits stormed the area around 8 p.m., firing indiscriminately. The three victims, identified as local farmers, were killed while attempting to flee, with two others sustaining gunshot wounds. The monarch, a 65-year-old traditional ruler known for mediating land disputes, was seized from his palace during the raid. The bandits, numbering about 15 and wielding AK-47 rifles, contacted the community the following day, demanding ₦12 million by May 22, 2025, and threatening to kill the monarch if the ransom was not paid. The Kogi State Police Command, led by Commissioner Bethrand Onuoha, confirmed the attack, deploying tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, to track the perpetrators.
Kogi, a gateway between Nigeria’s North and South, has seen a surge in banditry, with 150 abductions reported in 2024, according to the Nigeria Security Tracker. The state’s proximity to bandit strongholds in Niger and Kaduna fuels the crisis, with 70% of attacks targeting rural communities. The Eganyi attack follows a similar incident in March 2024, when 10 villagers were kidnapped in nearby Okene, released only after ₦8 million was paid. Community leaders have criticized the government’s reliance on vigilantes, like the Kogi Hunters, who lack adequate training, and called for more military presence, noting only one police post serves Eganyi’s 5,000 residents.
Governor Usman Ododo, who visited Eganyi on May 18, 2025, vowed to secure the monarch’s release without paying the ransom, citing Nigeria’s anti-ransom law. He announced plans to establish a Forward Operating Base in Adavi and equip vigilantes with 50 motorcycles for rapid response. However, locals expressed skepticism, citing unfulfilled promises from 2023 to curb banditry. The crisis reflects broader challenges in Nigeria’s Northwest and North-Central regions, where 400 abductions occurred in 2024, per Human Rights Watch. Analysts urge community policing and youth employment programs to address root causes like poverty, with Kogi’s unemployment rate at 35%. As the ransom deadline looms, Eganyi remains on edge, awaiting the monarch’s fate.