Gunmen Kill Two Cashew Farmers in Kogi State Attack

On February 22, 2026, gunmen attacked cashew farmers in Ejiba, Kogi State, resulting in the deaths of Pastor Gideon Etsu and Joseph Jone. The attack occurred in the afternoon when the victims were working on their cashew farm located on the outskirts of the community.

Pastor Gideon Etsu was a community leader and secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Ejiba. The assailants, suspected to be armed bandits operating in the nearby forest, left the scene after the attack, which has raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the Yagba West Local Government Area.

The chairman of Yagba West, Hon. Tosin Olokun, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

He advised farmers to avoid accessing remote areas without adequate security measures to minimize exposure to criminal threats. The police spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza, was unavailable for comment at the time of the report.