The victims, identified as Eniojukan Samuel, Eniojukan Bunmi, and Ekomitan Mary, were kidnapped along the Ihale–Taki Road in Taki community, located in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state.
Three residents who were abducted by suspected kidnappers in Kogi State have regained their freedom after spending more than four weeks in captivity, following the payment of ransom by their families.
The victims, identified as Eniojukan Samuel, Eniojukan Bunmi, and Ekomitan Mary, were kidnapped along the Ihale–Taki Road in Taki community, located in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters gathered that the abduction occurred more than a month ago while the victims were travelling through the area, a route that residents have repeatedly described as unsafe due to frequent criminal activities.
A local news outfit, Egbe Mekun, reported that the victims were released after ransom was paid to their abductors. Community sources confirmed the development, although the exact amount paid and the details of the negotiations were not disclosed.
Residents said the return of the abducted individuals has brought immense relief to their families and the wider Taki community, which has been gripped by fear and anxiety since the incident occurred.
The incident adds to the growing number of kidnapping cases in Kogi State and across Nigeria’s North-Central region, including Kwara, Niger, Benue, and Plateau, where armed groups continue to target travellers and rural communities.
In recent months, the region has witnessed a surge in attacks, abductions, and killings, with many families forced to sell property or raise huge sums of money to secure the release of their loved ones.
However, despite repeated assurances by security agencies and state governments, residents say the situation has continued to deteriorate.