Armed men have kidnapped the District Head of Bagaji Odo in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief David Wada, throwing the community into fear and uncertainty.
The monarch, a second-class traditional ruler, was seized on Monday evening while returning from a traditional council meeting held in Abejukolo, headquarters of the council area.
Spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Ovye-Aya, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday in Lokoja, said the ruler was ambushed at Ojuwo Ugweche by heavily armed gunmen who whisked him away into the forest at gunpoint.
“Immediately we received the distress call, our operatives from the Omala Division, supported by hunters and local vigilantes, moved into action and have since been combing the forest to rescue him unhurt,” Ovye-Aya said.
The paramount ruler of Omala, the Onu Ife, Chief Boniface Musa, also confirmed the abduction, appealing to security agencies to ensure the safe return of the district head.
This latest attack has revived fears of insecurity in Omala, which had witnessed deadly raids in 2024, when bandits razed Bagana, Bagaji, Agojeju Odo, and Ajokpachi Odo communities, forcing the Federal Government to deploy military detachments to restore calm.
As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had not contacted the victim’s family, and no ransom demand had been made.
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