Residents of Okoloke in Kogi State’s Yagba West LGA are living in fear after another violent attack saw four people, including a retired elder, abducted by gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday.
The attackers reportedly forced their way into the home of Pa Ezekiel Durojaiye, a respected figure from nearby Okunran village, before abducting him and three others at gunpoint.
This incident marks the third kidnapping in the area in just one week, bringing the total number of abductees to eight.
Only days earlier, the community was rocked by the kidnapping of their traditional ruler, Oba James Dada Ogunyamda. Shortly after, two local vigilante members and another resident were also taken.
Sources say the kidnappers have demanded N50 million for the release of the 90-year-old monarch, down from their initial N100 million request. The monarch’s family is seeking support from government agencies and the public to secure his release.
Despite repeated assurances from both the local government and the police, no concrete progress has been made in recovering any of the victims, leaving the community in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.