Gunmen attack Kogi community, abduct monarch, wife

Suspected gunmen on Monday, abducted the Oba of Idofin and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the traditional ruler, Shedrack Durojaye Obibeni, and his wife were said to be abducted at about 5 p.m along Makutu-Idofin road.

Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, Yagba East Local Government Council Chairman, who confirmed the incident to NAN, described it as “very shocking” and “sad”, adding that he was still in shock over the incident, which had not happened in the area for almost two years.

“I, as the council chairman and the people of Yagba East are in great shock over the kidnap of our respected Oba and his wife this evening.

“This is because we in this LGA have a very robust security architecture keeping vigil and warding off criminal elements away from us.

“This incident was well planned by the kidnappers because from what I learnt, the Oba and his wife only moved out to see something and in less than 10 minutes that incident happened.

“We smell a rat over this sad incident and we are not resting until we get to the criminal elements who did this dastardly act and rescue our traditional ruler and his wife,” he said.

“As we speak, our hunters and vigilante group are already out into the bushes searching for the criminals so as to rescue our Oba and his wife as soon as possible,” he added.

When contacted, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, said he was yet to be briefed by the DPO of the affected area on the incident.