A solemn night of prayers turned into a horrifying ordeal on Friday, as armed assailants stormed a mountain-top vigil in the Egbola area along Agbaja Road, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting an as-yet-unknown number of worshippers.
The sacred gathering, held on a popular “Prayer Mountain,” was violently disrupted when the attackers struck under the cover of darkness. Witnesses say the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately to cause panic, forcing worshippers to flee in terror as bullets rang out through the quiet night.
“They came shooting to scare everyone. People were running in different directions. Some were captured and taken away into the forest,” a local resident told Daily Trust.
Amidst the chaos, a woman identified as Mary Adams Gure was reportedly rescued after a daring operation by local vigilantes. The community-based security group had been alerted and quickly mobilised to confront the attackers in a fierce gun duel.
“The vigilantes were swift in their response,” said one of the operatives involved in the mission. “We engaged the gunmen in a firefight. In the process, Mary Gure was rescued. She had managed to escape and was later found. We are still combing the forest for the others.”
While the exact number of abductees remains unclear, sources within the community fear that several people, including women and possibly children, may still be held captive.
Efforts to get an official response from the Kogi State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as the Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, failed to answer multiple calls and messages seeking confirmation and details of the incident.
This latest attack has sent shockwaves through the state and beyond, amplifying fears about the deteriorating security situation in the North Central region. In recent months, religious centres, schools, highways, and rural communities have come under siege by armed gangs who operate with alarming boldness and impunity.
Residents are now calling for immediate government intervention and enhanced security presence in vulnerable areas, particularly around worship centres and remote communities.
“This is not the first time our people have suffered such trauma,” said a local community leader. “We can no longer worship in peace. Something must be done urgently before more lives are lost.”
As the search for the remaining victims continues, families are left gripped with anxiety, praying for the safe return of their loved ones and hoping that the mountain will once again be a place of peace—not pain.
PIONEER NEWS 