Residents of Egbe town in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State have raised the alarm over a new tactic used by bandits, who reportedly spray chemical substances inside homes to sedate victims before abduction.
Local security sources confirmed that two separate incidents occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 24, 2025, prompting urgent calls for heightened vigilance in the community.
In the first attack, two residents were kidnapped, while another narrowly escaped after sending a distress message to local security personnel, but the attackers retreated into the bush with their captives before security teams arrived.
Eyewitnesses said the bandits targeted the home of a staff member of ECWA Hospital in Odorum around 11 pm, jumping the perimeter fence and spending over 90 minutes inside the compound while spraying a chemical substance described as similar to “turari,” which caused sudden weakness in anyone who inhaled it.
The resident, who was not in his usual room, regained enough strength to alert security forces, allowing vigilantes to fire warning shots and force the intruders to flee, rescuing the victim.
Later in the day, another abduction attempt near Baba Labourer/Government Secondary School was thwarted by Egbe vigilante operatives, with no one taken.
The use of chemicals to incapacitate victims has heightened fear across the community, with residents warning that bandits are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous.
Local residents commended Egbe’s vigilante groups for their resilience, bravery, and rapid response, noting that their courage remains critical in preventing further tragedies in Yagba West.
Authorities are still assessing the situation, but early indications suggest there were no casualties, and the local security outfit successfully defended the area.
Communities in Yagba East and Yagba West, particularly those bordering Kwara State, have experienced a disturbing rise in armed attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes in recent months, including the abduction of a timber supplier and one of his workers in Okoloke last Tuesday.
