• Catholic priest kidnapped in Kogi

A 20-year-old orphan, Muhamad Abdulmumini, has been hospitalised after being brutally beaten by his uncle, Kamar Amoto, who accused him of stealing an Android phone.

The Guardian learnt that after subjecting the orphan to severe flogging to force a confession, the allegedly missing phone was later discovered in Amoto’s room. He reportedly admitted he had forgotten he had left it there earlier.

An eyewitness recounted that Amoto, a bricklayer, allegedly beat the boy with a shovel until he fell unconscious. Concerned neighbour, Ahmed Rufai, rushed the victim, who was barely breathing, to Dosam Clinic for urgent treatment.

Medical reports signed by Dr Nyamida Samuel confirmed that the orphan sustained severe internal bleeding and kidney damage. He was subsequently referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where his survival remains uncertain. Former Chairman of Adavi Joint Community, Hussein Aduvusu, confirmed the arrest of Amoto, who is now in police custody at Okehi Division.

“This is not an isolated act,” Aduvusu said. “We have had several complaints about his violent behaviour. This must stop. Justice must be seen to be done.”

Meanwhile, in another development, Reverend Father Wilfred Ezemba of St. Paul Parish, Agaliga-Efabo in Olamaboro Local Council of Kogi State, has been kidnapped at gunpoint by unknown gunmen.

The abduction reportedly took place last Saturday in Imane, along the Imane–Ogugu road, with reports suggesting that the priest may have been seized alongside other yet-to-be-identified commuters.

The incident has thrown the Catholic community in the area into disarray. “Our confusion is high because since his abduction three days ago, his abductors have not made any contact to demand ransom. But we are confident that Almighty God will deliver him safely from the grip of the kidnappers. We believe strongly in the efficacy of our prayers, he will eventually regain his freedom,” said Fr. Michael.

Security agencies, including the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch (KENW), police, and troops, are currently combing nearby bushes and forests in pursuit of the abductors.

The kidnapping of Ezemba is the second such incident within one week in Olamaboro Local Council. When contacted, the phone line of the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye, was not reachable at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Idah Branch, has urged governments at all levels to urgently address the rising wave of insecurity, particularly the spate of kidnappings in Kogi State.

The Branch Chairman, James Michael, expressed sadness over the escalating incidents, citing the recent abduction of lawyer A. B. Shuaib, a member of the branch, as further evidence of the deepening security crisis.