Bandits Kill Pastor In Kogi Community, Another Farmer Killed Barely 24 Hours

Lokoja,  Kogi State– Terrorists suspected to be armed bandits have reportedly killed a pastor identified simply as Pastor Gideon, a Hausa cleric and Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Afrika Eyes gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when the cleric reportedly went to his cashew farm located on the outskirts of Ejiba community.

Meanwhile, the attackers allegedly ambushed Pastor Gideon at the farm and killed him on the spot.

A community-based platform, Egbe Mekun, reported that the pastor’s locally made gun was destroyed during the attack.

An eyewitness account from the area claimed that the assailants left the victim severely mutilated before fleeing the scene, throwing the community into fear and mourning.

The killing comes less than 24 hours after another farmer, identified as Joseph Jones, a native of Odo-Eri in Yagba West Local Government Area, was reportedly killed by suspected bandits while returning from his cashew farm.

His companion was said to have gone missing during the attack, with residents expressing fears that he may have been abducted or killed.

Residents say the deaths of Pastor Gideon and Joseph Jones have increased the number of farmers reportedly attacked in Yagba West in recent weeks to at least seven, heightening fresh concerns over the deteriorating security situation in farming communities across the area.

Community members have called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Kogi State Government to urgently intervene, deploy security personnel to vulnerable communities, and curb the rising wave of deadly attacks targeting farmers in Yagba West.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the incidents.