Armed gunmen abducted four people in Okoloke, a community in the Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The attackers stormed the area in the early hours, breaking into the home of Ezekiel Durojaiye, a respected retiree and community leader from nearby Okunran village. After overpowering the area, the gunmen abducted Pa Durojaiye, along with three others, and fled into the bush with their captives at gunpoint. This latest kidnapping has raised fears and tensions in the community, where abductions have become more frequent.
Yagba West has been a hotspot for such incidents recently. Just last Thursday, the traditional ruler of the village, Oba James Dada Ogunyamda, was kidnapped, and three days later, two vigilante members and a Glo Mobile staff member were taken. In total, eight people have been abducted from the area within a single week. The kidnappers of the 90-year-old monarch demanded a ransom of N100 million, later reducing the amount to N50 million after negotiations. His family has appealed to the government, organizations, and the public to help raise funds for his release.
