By Andrew Haruna
Okoloke, Yagba West, Kogi State – May 20, 2025
For the third time in seven days, armed assailants have attacked Okoloke, an agrarian community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, which hosts a significant Fulani population.
The latest incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday. Eyewitnesses report that gunmen stormed the residence of Pa Ezekiel Durojaiye, a respected community elder and retiree from nearby Okunran village. The attackers abducted Durojaiye along with three others, dragging them into the bush at gunpoint.
“They came in the night, heavily armed, and went straight to Pa Durojaiye’s house. The whole place was thrown into chaos,” said a local resident who asked to remain anonymous.
This marks the third major abduction in the same community in just one week, with a total of eight individuals kidnapped.
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Last Thursday, the traditional ruler of Okoloke, Oba James Dada Ogunyamda, was abducted.
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Three days later, two vigilante members and a Glo Mobile staff were seized by gunmen.
The kidnappers who abducted the 90-year-old monarch initially demanded ₦100 million ransom, later reduced to ₦50 million. The monarch’s family continues to appeal for help from government authorities, NGOs, and concerned Nigerians.
The recurring attacks have plunged the once peaceful area into fear and anxiety. Despite assurances from Yagba West Local Government Chairman, Tosin Olokun, and the Kogi State Police Command, there has been no breakthrough in securing the release of any of the victims.
Security analysts warn that Yagba West may be turning into a hotspot for organized crime if urgent action is not taken to stem the tide of abductions.
