Terrorists Free Final Batch of Kidnapped Kogi Christians After Ransom Payment

Terrorists have released the final batch of six abductees taken from Aiyetoro Kiri community in Bunu land, Kogi State, following weeks of intense negotiations and ransom payments.

The Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu Development Association (AKBDA) confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, describing the release as the end of “a long, traumatic ordeal for the victims, their families, and the entire community.”

The abductees were members of First ECWA Aiyetoro Kiri, kidnapped during an attack on the community on December 14, 2025.

According to AKBDA, the release of the six individuals marks the conclusion of a phased process that began earlier this year after prolonged engagement with the abductors.

The association noted that the first batch of seven abductees was released on January 1, 2026, following initial negotiations and payments.

Despite the emotional toll and mounting financial burden on families and the community, talks continued, leading to the release of three more victims on January 12, 2026, and fourteen others the following day. The remaining six were freed in the most recent development.

The association expressed profound gratitude to God for the safe return of all abductees and thanked the families, residents of Aiyetoro Kiri, friends of the community, and well-wishers who offered support throughout the crisis.

The group also called for lasting peace and improved security in Aiyetoro Kiri and the wider Bunu land, urging relevant authorities to take decisive action to prevent a recurrence of such attacks.