Gunmen allegedly involved in bandits’ killing three people on Saturday in the Okoloke community, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, while keeping a tight grip on their abducted victim, a traditional ruler.
The area’s graded chief, Pa Dada James Ogunyanda, was abducted from his palace on Thursday morning.
The assailants shot down a local vigilante and a telecommunications worker who had been inspecting a telecommunications mast in the area in a recent wave of violence.
According to community sources, the attackers initially demanded a ransom of $ 100 million to free the nonagenarian ruler. The amount was allegedly reduced to 12 million during ongoing negotiations.
The bandits were informed of the monarch’s fragile health and his need for regular medication, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.
The kidnappers then instructed that his drugs be packaged and dropped off at a designated location for later delivery, according to the source.
Tragically, the gunmen struck once more on Saturday morning, killing the three victims before the community could follow the orders.
When the vigilantes encountered the armed assailants in the bush, which the telecoms staff was supposed to be accompanying, opened fire right away, immediately.
Also read: Gunmen abduct the Kogi’s traditional ruler
Olusegun Iselaye, a member of the community, confirmed the development via Facebook and expressed his deep regret for the government’s inaction in light of the growing insecurity.
We are heartbroken and outraged to learn that bandit attacks in the same community have resulted in the loss of three more innocent lives just days after the abduction of our traditional ruler in Okoloke village, Yagba West, he wrote.
This senseless violence is unacceptable and underscores the need for swift security measures.
The continued inaction on the ground is deeply concerning, despite Senator Karimi’s and his Kwara counterpart’s efforts to address the issue of insecurity in our region just days ago.
“As of the most recent update, Okoloke hasn’t seen any police activity or action, allowing these horrific killings to occur.” Our already feared communities are further traumatized by this lack of response, which is a clear failure.
The current security posture in Yagba West is severely flawed, according to the tragedy in Okoloke.
“As we previously stated, our soldiers’ presence has not provided the desired level of security, but rather has caused deeply troubling issues, including extortion and harassment of our people,” the statement continued.
“The situation is dire,” he said. The Kogi State Government must be made aware of the magnitude of this crisis. It is obvious that the current military deployment is ineffective, and it has even caused issues.
Tosin Olokun, the chairman of Yagba West LGA, allegedly visited the ailing community in response to the incident. He assured the populace that coordinated efforts were being made to save the monarch and stop the region’s growing band of bandits.
