Residents of Egbe in Yagba West, Kogi State, have raised alarm after bandits reportedly adopted a new tactic—spraying chemical substances inside homes to weaken and sedate victims before abducting them.
Local security sources confirmed two attacks in the early hours of Monday, November 24, 2025. In the first incident, two people were kidnapped, while a third escaped after managing to send a distress message. By the time security teams arrived, the attackers had fled into the bush with their captives.
Eyewitnesses said the gang targeted the home of an ECWA Hospital staff member in Odorum around 11 pm. The assailants allegedly scaled the fence, spent over an hour inside the compound, and released a chemical described as smelling like turari, which caused sudden weakness in those who inhaled it. The victim, who was in a different room, regained strength long enough to alert vigilantes, who arrived quickly and forced the attackers to flee.
A second attempted kidnapping near Baba Labourer/Government Secondary School was foiled later in the day after Egbe vigilante operatives repelled the attackers.
The use of chemical agents has heightened fear across the community, with residents warning that criminal groups are becoming more sophisticated. Many have praised the swift response and bravery of local vigilante teams, crediting them with preventing a major security breach.
The latest incidents add to a series of kidnappings in Yagba West, including the recent abduction of a timber supplier and his worker in Okoloke. Communities across Yagba East and West—especially those bordering Kwara State—have been experiencing a surge in violent attacks and kidnappings in recent months.
