For the third time in a week, gunmen have attacked Okoloke, an agrarian community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four residents.
The latest incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when armed assailants stormed the area and forcibly entered the home of Pa Ezekiel Durojaiye, a retired community leader in nearby Okunran village. He and three others were abducted and taken into the bush at gunpoint.
This marks the third such attack in seven days. Last Thursday, Oba James Dada Ogunyamda, the community’s traditional ruler, was kidnapped. Three days later, two local vigilantes and another resident were abducted, bringing the total number of victims to eight.
The abductors of the 90-year-old monarch initially demanded ₦100 million in ransom, later reduced to ₦50 million. His family has appealed to the government, NGOs, and the public for help.
Despite assurances from Yagba West Local Government Chairman, Tosin Olokun, and the Kogi State Police Command, no confirmed rescues have been reported as of press time. The recurring attacks have heightened fear and unrest in the area.
