Bandits kidnap Kogi first class monarch, demand N30m ransom
By Oyibo Salihu, Lokoja, Aideolje Ojo, Minna and Chuks Nweze, Enugu
A first class traditional ruler and Adogu of Eganyi in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state, Alhaji Mohammed Adembe has been kidnapped.
He was reportedly kidnapped Tuesday evening by yet- to- be identified persons along Okene-Eganyi road.
The incident happened some 72 hours after another first class monarch and Emir of Kajuru in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state, Alhaji Hassan Adamu, was kidnapped and released about 24 hours after.
The kidnap of the Kogi monarch also came barely three days after the abduction of Managing Director of AZECO Pharmaceutical Company at Ozuwaya in Okene, Kogi Central Senatorial District, Pharmacist AbdulAzeez Obajimoh.
A source who spoke to journalist son the telephone, said the royal father who was alone in his car, left Okene town around 4pm Tuesday for Eganyi community and was abducted between Ebiya and Eganyi.
And as a follow-up, the kidnappers reached out to the family at about 1.00 pm Wednesday and demanded a N30 million ransom to secure his release.
Confirming the incident, the state’s Police Public Relation Officer, Kogi Mr William Ayah, said the command had deployed special squad to trail the abductors.
He called on the general public to assist the police with useful information to enable security agents rescue the royal father.
In a related development, bandits killed one person, abducted five others and rustled 32 cows in Angwar Rimi in Yakila village area, Guna District of Rafi local government area of Niger state.
The bandits, numbering 18, were reported to have invaded the village at about 2am Wednesday morning riding on nine motor bikes.
It was gathered that the bandits compelled the abductees to move the rustled cows, a development that worried residents of the area.
It was also learnt that two people injured during the attack were rushed to General Hospital Wushishi.