Fear and outrage have gripped Okoloke community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State following the abduction of a first-class traditional ruler, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Obalohun of Okoloke, by heavily armed bandits in the early hours of Thursday.
The attackers reportedly struck around 2:00 a.m., storming the monarch’s palace under the cover of darkness. Eyewitnesses say the bandits overpowered security personnel, vandalized parts of the palace, and abducted the traditional ruler in a swift and coordinated operation. As of press time, the kidnappers have not made any contact or ransom demands.
Residents, still reeling from the attack, have gathered at the palace to offer prayers for Oba Ogunyanda’s safe return and to call on the authorities for urgent intervention. The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident and said a joint task force—including police operatives, local vigilantes, and hunters—has been deployed to track down the assailants and rescue the monarch.
Chairman of Yagba West LGA, Tosin Olokun, condemned the abduction as a “direct affront to our cultural values and peaceful coexistence.” Through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Adeyemi Sunday, Olokun blamed the region’s porous border with Kwara State for enabling criminal activities and providing escape routes through forested areas such as Babanla, Ndanaku, and Babasango.
“We are working closely with all relevant security agencies to ensure a prompt and decisive response,” the statement said. “Every available resource is being deployed to secure the safe return of His Royal Highness.”
Olokun urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel, while warning against any form of retaliatory action. “Reprisal violence only escalates the situation,” he noted.
The local government reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and dismantling criminal networks operating in the region. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Oba Ogunyanda and all those affected. With God’s help and the dedication of our security forces, we are confident in a safe return.”
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as the community anxiously awaits news of their monarch.
