The agrarian community of Okoloke in Kogi State’s Yagba West Local Government Area has been rocked by a third violent kidnapping in just one week, as unidentified gunmen launched yet another brazen early morning assault, abducting four individuals, including a respected community elder.
Local sources confirmed that the attackers stormed the area under the cover of darkness on Tuesday, targeting the residence of Pa Ezekiel Durojaiye, a retired civil servant and revered figure from neighboring Okunran village.
Durojaiye, along with three other residents, was whisked away at gunpoint into the nearby bush, triggering widespread panic and deepening the community’s sense of vulnerability.
“We can no longer sleep peacefully. This is the third time in seven days. Who knows who is next?” said a visibly shaken resident who requested anonymity.
This latest incident follows a string of coordinated attacks that have turned Yagba West into a kidnapping hotspot:
Last Thursday: Armed men abducted Oba James Dada Ogunyamda, the traditional ruler of a neighboring village.
Three days later: Two vigilantes and another civilian were also taken.
With Tuesday’s abduction, the total number of kidnapped persons now stands at eight within seven days.
The attackers behind the monarch’s abduction reportedly demanded a ₦100 million ransom, later reduced to ₦50 million, leaving his family pleading publicly for help from the government, NGOs, and concerned citizens.
In response, security operatives have launched coordinated search and rescue missions involving the Kogi State Police Command, Nigerian Army, and local Fulani vigilantes.
On Monday, police announced a modest breakthrough: the rescue of three victims during a fierce gun battle with kidnappers in Ankomi Forest. According to Police Public Relations Officer William Aya, the abductors were forced to abandon their captives after sustaining injuries in the exchange.
“The kidnappers fled into the forest with gunshot wounds, leaving behind the rescued victims — who were fortunately unharmed,” Aya said in the statement.
Despite this progress, the location and fate of the remaining captives, including Pa Durojaiye and the monarch, remain unknown. The Yagba West Local Government Chairman, Tosin Olokun, has reaffirmed commitment to ongoing rescue operations but acknowledged the rising fear and trauma among residents.
The escalating wave of violence in Yagba West reflects a broader security crisis across Kogi and other parts of central Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently exploit the gaps in rural security infrastructure.
Human rights groups and analysts warn that if left unchecked, these targeted attacks on elders, royals, and community leaders may erode traditional leadership structures and leave rural populations without guidance or protection.
With each new attack, Okoloke and neighboring communities are being pushed to the edge — psychologically, economically, and socially. While the recent rescue offers a glimmer of hope, the broader threat remains dangerously unresolved.
“We are not just losing people. We are losing peace, dignity, and the will to carry on,” said a community elder.
Until decisive and sustained action is taken, the people of Yagba West continue to live under siege, their nights shattered by fear, and their days filled with uncertainty.
