Bandits Kill Three In Kogi, Demand ₦12 Million Ransom For Kidnapped Monarch

Tension is rising in the Okoloke community of Yagba West, Kogi State, after suspected bandits killed three people on Saturday and continued to hold a traditional ruler they abducted days earlier.

The kidnapped monarch, Pa Dada James Ogunyanda, was taken from his palace early Thursday morning.

Community sources said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦100 million for his release, but the amount was later reduced to ₦12 million during negotiations.

The kidnappers were reportedly told that the elderly chief needs regular medication, and they asked for his drugs to be dropped at a specific location.

Before any delivery could be made, the bandits struck again on Saturday, killing two vigilante members and a telecom worker.

The victims were reportedly on their way to inspect a telecom mast when they were ambushed in the bush and shot dead.

A local resident, Olusegun Iselaye, shared the tragic news on Facebook, expressing frustration over the lack of government action, lamenting that the community feels abandoned by security forces.

Iselaye said the local people are living in fear and accused the military presence in the area of being ineffective, claiming that instead of providing protection, soldiers have allegedly been harassing and extorting residents.

He called on the Kogi State Government to take the worsening security crisis seriously, stressing that the current strategy is not working and may even be making the situation worse.

“We are heartbroken and outraged to report that just days after the kidnapping of our traditional ruler in Okoloke village, Yagba West, we have now lost three more innocent lives to bandit attacks in the very same community,” he wrote.

“This senseless violence is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for effective security measures.

“While we appreciate the efforts of Senator Karimi and his Kwara counterpart in raising the issue of insecurity in our region at the National Assembly just days ago, the continued inaction on the ground is deeply concerning.

“As of the last update, there has been no visible police presence or action in Okoloke, allowing these horrific killings to occur. This lack of response is a clear failure and further traumatises our already fearful communities.

“This tragedy in Okoloke further highlights the critical flaws in the current security strategy in Yagba West.

“As we stated previously, the presence of soldiers has not brought the desired security and has instead led to deeply troubling issues, including extortion and harassment of our people.

“The situation is dire. We urgently call on the Kogi State Government to recognise the gravity of this escalating crisis. The continued reliance on the current military deployment is clearly not working and has even created additional problems.”

In his response, Yagba West LGA Chairman, Tosin Olokun, reportedly visited the community to reassure them that efforts are underway to secure the monarch’s release and tackle bandit attacks.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Police Command has not issued any statement about the latest incident.

KanyiDaily recalls that five traders from Dogon Ruwa in the Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State, were kidnapped after bandits attacked a busy market on Monday morning.