For the third time in seven days, gunmen have attacked Okoloke, a farming community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four individuals.
The latest incident occurred early Tuesday morning when an unidentified group of armed men invaded the residence of Ezekiel Durojaiye, a retiree and respected community leader from nearby Okunran village.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers forcibly took Pa Durojaiye and three others, escorting them into the forest at gunpoint. This attack has heightened fears among residents, who have witnessed a series of abductions in recent days.
Just last Thursday, gunmen kidnapped Oba James Dada Ogunyamda, the traditional ruler of the village.
Three days later, two vigilante members and another individual were also abducted, bringing the total number of kidnapped victims from the community to eight within a week.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million for the monarch, later reducing it to N50 million. His family has since sought assistance from the government, organizations, and the public to raise the funds.
Despite reassurances from Yagba West Local Government Chairman Tosin Olokun and the Kogi State Police Command about ongoing rescue operations, there has been no confirmed progress in securing the release of the victims.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Kogi State Police Command reported a successful rescue operation. In collaboration with the Nigerian Army and Fulani vigilantes, operatives attached to the Obajana Division rescued three kidnapped victims during a raid on the Ankomi Forest.
According to Police Public Relations Officer William Aya, the victims were rescued unharmed after a gunfight forced the kidnappers to flee, abandoning their captives. The police noted that the criminals sustained gunshot injuries while escaping.