A peaceful night of prayer turned into chaos and terror on Friday as gunmen stormed a mountain prayer site in the Egbola area, along Agbaja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting several worshippers in a brazen attack.
The shocking incident occurred during a night vigil at the remote location, where faithful had gathered for spiritual retreat.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in the dead of night, firing sporadically into the air to scatter the worshippers before seizing an undisclosed number and dragging them into the surrounding forest.
Amid the confusion, a woman identified as Mary Adams Gure managed to escape the captors and was rescued by operatives of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, who swiftly mobilized upon receiving distress calls.
“The vigilantes were alerted and responded quickly. They engaged the gunmen in a fierce gun duel, which helped us rescue one of the victims. A full search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to locate the rest,” a vigilante operative told our reporter.
The heroic efforts of the local security group are being praised, even as fears linger for those still missing.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The Egbola prayer ground attack adds to growing concerns over the rising wave of insecurity in rural and semi-rural areas of Kogi State, especially around Lokoja’s outskirts.
Residents have called for increased patrols, tighter security around religious gatherings, and swift action to ensure the safe return of the abducted worshippers.
