…Rage, Anguish in Kogi and Sokoto.
…Tinubu Reaffirms Tough Security Measures
By Peter Salami
What should have been moments of joy and worship in two Nigerian states turned into scenes of terror, anguish, and public outrage over the weekend, as bandits unleashed coordinated attacks on communities in Sokoto and Kogi, abducting women, worshippers, and an entire bridal party. The latest violence has deepened nationwide anxiety and renewed demands for decisive government action: demands President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says his administration is now fully mobilised to confront.
Bride, Bridesmaids Abducted in Sokoto village hours to wedding.
In Chacho village of Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a night of celebration dissolved into horror late Saturday when armed bandits stormed the community around midnight, abducting a young bride, her bridesmaids, and several well-wishers.
The women, gathered in anticipation of the wedding scheduled for the next morning, were taken as gunmen fired sporadically, sending residents: women, children, and the elderly, fleeing into nearby bushes.
The village, hometown of the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Shehu Alhaji Chacho, has become the latest victim of the escalating wave of insecurity sweeping the state. The attack came barely hours after kidnappers in nearby Rabah, birthplace of the late Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello, reportedly received a ransom of ₦4 million and a motorcycle to free earlier captives.
A resident who witnessed Saturday’s attack described it as “heartbreaking,” lamenting that the bandits operated freely for several minutes without security resistance. As of press time, the abductors had not contacted the family of the bride or community leaders.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufai, were unsuccessful. However, the state APC chairman, Hon. Isah Sadeeq Achida, confirmed the incident, saying several villagers were abducted, though the full details were still unclear.
Residents say the repeated attacks have left Chacho in fear and desperation, pleading for urgent government intervention.
In Ejiba, Yagba West LGA of Kogi State, rage and panic gripped the community on Sunday morning when gunmen invaded a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church during worship, whisking away the pastor—popularly known as Orlando—his wife, and several congregants.
Gunshots sent worshippers scattering in all directions as the attackers overpowered the congregation. Residents described the incident as shocking and traumatic, adding that the full number of abducted persons remains unknown.
While initial reports said neither the police nor the state government had issued a statement, an official confirmation later came from the Kogi Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, who condemned the attack as “sad and unfortunate.”
Fanwo suggested that the assailants may have been hiding in the community or surrounding bushes for days, and criticised residents who fail to report strange movements. He warned that worshipping in isolated locations without security, especially weeks after a similar church abduction in Kwara, puts communities at avoidable risk.
“It’s easy to blame the government,” he said, “but those suffering in the hands of these incurable irredentists are our people. When you see something, say something.”
He assured that security agencies have launched efforts to rescue all abductees.
Amid the spreading anguish and public outrage, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday reaffirmed that restoring peace and strengthening national security remain the sacred priorities of his administration.
Speaking in Lokoja at the memorial of former Kogi governor Prince Abubakar Audu, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the President acknowledged recent setbacks but insisted the government is fully mobilised to “hunt the enemies of the state wherever they may be.”
Tinubu highlighted his recent State of Emergency on National Security, stressing that it is not symbolic but a “declaration of war against all forms of insecurity.” He said the government is expanding the capacity of the armed forces through increased manpower, advanced weaponry, and enhanced intelligence.
Central to his security reforms, he said, is the push for State Police, which he described as a bold, necessary step toward community-sensitive policing and grassroots employment.
The President also outlined broader reforms: modernising livestock farming to reduce farmer-herder tensions, expanding social investment programmes for vulnerable citizens, and accelerating infrastructure development across transport and energy sectors.
From a bride abducted hours before her wedding in Sokoto, to worshippers seized mid-service in Kogi, the weekend’s tragedies have deepened national frustration over worsening insecurity. Communities are grieving, families are shattered, and trust in the security architecture is critically strained.