Tension has escalated in the Okoloke community, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, following the killing of three individuals by suspected bandits who continue to hold a kidnapped traditional ruler captive.
The monarch, Pa Dada James Ogunyanda a nonagenarian and a respected graded chief was abducted from his palace in the early hours of Thursday. In a deadly turn of events, the attackers struck again on Saturday, killing two local vigilantes and a telecommunications engineer who had gone to inspect a telecoms mast in the area.
Community sources revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded ₦100 million as ransom for the release of the elderly chief. However, during negotiations, the amount was reportedly reduced to ₦12 million after the bandits were informed of the monarch’s fragile health and dependence on medication.
According to an insider, the kidnappers instructed that the chief’s medication be packaged and dropped at a designated location. Sadly, before this could be done, the assailants launched another attack, ambushing and killing the three victims. It was reported that the vigilantes were escorting the telecom worker through a bush path when they were confronted and gunned down by the bandits.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community. Confirming the killings in a Facebook post, a resident, Olusegun Iselaye, expressed profound sorrow and criticized what he described as the government’s inadequate response to the deteriorating security situation.
In reaction to the attack, the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Tosin Olokun, visited the community to sympathize with residents. He assured them that steps were being taken to secure the release of the kidnapped monarch and to address the rising insecurity in the region.
