By Fatima Mukhtar
A wave of fear swept through Gidan-Aminu community in Kogi State on Monday after armed bandits invaded the area at midnight, abducting a newly-wed bride and a wedding guest.
Locals said the attackers stormed the community around 12:15 a.m., firing into the air to scare residents before heading straight to the house where the bride was lodging after her wedding ceremony earlier in the day.
Witnesses reported that the bandits overpowered local vigilantes who attempted to resist the attack. The victims were taken away into a nearby forest, while the groom, who narrowly escaped, was said to be in distress as security agencies intensified efforts to trace the kidnappers.
A resident, who spoke anonymously, described the incident as heartbreaking, noting that insecurity has become a recurring nightmare for communities in the area.
Security operatives, including police officers and local hunters, have launched a joint search operation to rescue the victims. Community leaders are also calling on the Kogi State Government to strengthen security presence in rural settlements prone to such attacks.
Authorities were yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report. Residents continue to urge for urgent government intervention to prevent further tragedies amid the rising tide of abductions in the state.
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