A video has emerged showing Okunran, a community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, completely deserted after residents fled following recent deadly bandit attacks.
The footage, obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, captures an empty community with abandoned homes.
What was once a lively community now stands silent and deserted, a reminder of the violence that forced its people to run for their lives.
The mass exodus is said to be a direct result of repeated assaults by armed bandits who invaded the community, forcing locals to escape in search of safety.
In the wake of the attack, desperate pleas have surfaced from Yagba West.
“Please, help us in Yagba West,” a resident said.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about insecurity in Kogi State and the perceived lack of government response.
Residents have pointed out that Yagba West is the home local government of Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, who currently represents Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly and serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services.
“Governor Usman Ododo’s administration is not helping matters, and this is the same local government where Senator Sunday Karimi comes from,” a resident said, lamenting the insecurity threatening their lives and livelihoods in the area.
On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that Kogi State had witnessed two deadly attacks on police personnel, resulting in the deaths of officers and the theft of firearms.
In the first incident, around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, about 20 armed hoodlums ambushed officers of the 70 PMF Kabba, attached to the Isanlu Area Command, at their patrol point along Ilafin-Odogbe Road in Yagba East Local Government Area.
According to the incident report, during the attack, ASP Umar Suleman (F/No. 518320) and CPL Bitrus Isaac were shot dead.
The assailants also made away with two AK-47 rifles (Breech Nos. 354313 and 524085), each loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition.
The state police command said patrol teams were immediately mobilised, and the officers’ bodies were evacuated to the General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
In a second attack, at about 11:30 a.m., personnel of the 37 PMF attached to the Abugi Community were ambushed while returning to camp after duty.
The gunmen shot dead Inspector Johnson David (AP/No. 219236) and Inspector Ehinola Oluwole (AP/No. 242574). Their service rifles, an AK-47 (Breech No. 07009207) and another AK-47 (Breech No. 4014086), each loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, were also stolen.
According to the report, a civilian passerby, Isah Gilad, was also killed during the ambush. The victims were evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, for autopsy, while security forces intensified operations to apprehend the attackers and recover the stolen firearms.
Following the attacks, the Kogi State Police Command placed all formations on red alert and directed officers to remain vigilant.
Earlier on Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that bandits had launched a deadly attack in Ilafin community, Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing two police officers on duty.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning when the gunmen stormed a police checkpoint in the community.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed good Samaritans rushing to the scene to rescue the victims, though the officers’ lifeless bodies could be seen lying on the ground.
WATCH: Kogi Community Deserted As Residents Flee Bandit Attacks In Senator Karimi’s Yagba West Local Govt pic.twitter.com/mM4shOSC8d
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 26, 2025
