The cold reality of insecurity has once again gripped Kogi West as the death of three residents of Ayetoro-Kiri, abducted during a church service last month, sparks a heated confrontation between community leaders and the state government. The victims were part of a group of 37 worshippers seized from an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) branch in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area on December 14, 2025, an incident that has now escalated into a symbol of the growing vulnerability of rural communities in the confluence state.
The tragedy reached a boiling point on Saturday when the spokesperson for the Ayetoro-Kiri community, David Ampitan, confirmed the deaths of three abductees. The victims, whose identities have cast a pall of gloom over the Okun-speaking region, were reportedly found dead upon arrival at medical facilities following their release.
According to community accounts, the release of only seven individuals was secured following the payment of a ransom.
While these seven returned, the joy of their home-coming was short-lived as three succumbed to the trauma and conditions of their captivity. Currently, four others remain in critical condition, battling for their lives in undisclosed hospitals, while approximately 30 residents are still being held by their captors in the bush.
Ampitan, representing the frustrated voices of the Ayetoro-Kiri people, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the official response. He noted that despite peaceful demonstrations by community members seeking government intervention to rescue their loved ones, the authorities’ reaction has been largely perceived as indifferent or repressive.
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Reacting to the developments, former federal lawmaker Senator Dino Melaye has placed the blame for the carnage squarely at the feet of the Kogi State Government. In a pointed statement shared via his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Melaye described the situation as a “grave failure” of both state and federal security apparatuses.
The former senator, who represented Kogi West in the National Assembly, warned that the Okun people a demographic known for their peaceful disposition and commitment to civic duties—would no longer suffer in silence.
“The Kogi State Government must take responsibility. The death of three Ayetoro-Kiri indigenes will and should be taken seriously. There are no decisive and pragmatic approaches from state and federal governments,” Melaye wrote.
Drawing a line in the sand regarding the safety of his constituents, Melaye hinted at a breakdown of the social contract, emphasizing that as taxpayers, the people of Kabba-Bunu deserve protection, not abandonment.
“We as Okun people are taxpayers and should not be abandoned,” Melaye stated. “We will organise the kind of protest that police cannot stop if the stealing and killing of our people continue. We want to see deliberate, organised, and working efforts to secure and recover our people. Enough is enough.”
The abduction at the Ayetoro-Kiri ECWA church is not an isolated event but a continuation of a security crisis that has plagued the border towns of Kogi State for years. Kogi’s unique geography sharing borders with ten other states has long made it a strategic but high-risk corridor. While the state government has frequently touted its investments in security gadgets and local hunter commissions, the rugged terrain of Kabba-Bunu and surrounding forests continue to provide cover for criminal elements.
Historically, the Okun hinterlands have seen a rise in kidnappings and agrarian-related violence. The December 14 raid on a place of worship mirrors previous high-profile attacks in the region, where gunmen bypass security checkpoints to strike soft targets.
