Bandits have killed a man identified as Agba from Egbe community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, even after his community fully paid the demanded ransom for the release of a kidnapped resident.
Agba was one of two community members who volunteered to deliver the ransom to secure the freedom of Mabe, abducted by gunmen along the Egbe–Ogbe Road on December 16, 2025.
The bandits had negotiated and agreed on terms before instructing the community to send emissaries with the payment.
According to sources on the local platform Egbe Mekun, the kidnappers collected a Bajaj motorcycle, a brand-new Samsung phone, and over ₦1 million in cash.
Despite full compliance, tragedy struck: one ransom bearer was released, but Agba was allegedly killed while in captivity after attempting to escape.
Mabe, the primary victim, was freed on December 27, 2025, days after the payment.
This incident underscores the escalating dangers along rural roads in Kogi’s Yagba region, where banditry has surged in recent months.
In a separate attack, terrorists struck Idofin community in neighbouring Yagba East Local Government Area between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on January 3, 2026, killing a Tiv man and seriously injuring another local resident.
Egbe Mekun reported that military personnel later evacuated the injured victim to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
These events highlight persistent insecurity in Kogi West, with residents calling for stronger security measures amid frequent kidnappings and attacks.