Again, gunmen abduct man and wife in Yagba East

By Richard Elesho

In spite of ongoing military operations across Kogi State, Yagba East has suffered another security breach.

A group of unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani invaded Idofin, a community along the Kabba/Egbe/Ilorin highway, and went straight to the house of Elder Moses Tuesday Omokore. They subsequently forced Omokore and his wife to follow them to an unknown destination.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, October 21, at about 7:20 p.m., has left the people of the area in fear and confusion.

Omokore, a teacher by training, was recently redeployed to the zonal office of the Teaching Service Commission at the local government headquarters in Isanlu. He is also said to be the younger brother of Chief Friday Omokore, a notable businessman.

News of the attack was first made public on a WhatsApp platform. The informant urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements immediately. “This is a critical moment—may God protect our land and bring them back safely,” he added.

A pastor in the community, who spoke to this reporter anonymously, said the assailants had made contact, demanding the payment of 100 million naira as a condition for their release. “What they said we should pay is too much. We are looking up to God and the government, through the security agencies, to intervene,” he said.

Bandits have marauded Yagba Federal Constituency in recent times. Among the recent victims of abduction is Mrs. Omolayo Jacob, also known as Iyawo Agbede, a trader in Ilafin, a nearby agrarian community. She was kidnapped from her shop by four gun-wielding criminals on the evening of Thursday, October 15.

“The evil menace of kidnapping, intimidation, and harassment by herdsmen destroying our farms is worrisome. It calls for serious concern and should be highly condemned by all. While we call on the government to intervene, we all need to rise in one accord against this evil before it consumes all of us,” a source in the area said.