Tension has escalated in Okoloke community, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, as gunmen suspected to be bandits killed three individuals while maintaining a tight grip on their abducted victim, a traditional ruler.
The monarch, Pa Dada James Ogunyanda, a graded chief in the area, was kidnapped from his palace in the early hours of Thursday.
In a fresh wave of violence, the assailants gunned down two local vigilantes and a telecommunications worker who had gone to inspect a telecommunications mast in the area.
A person familiar with the discussions told newsmen that the bandits were informed of the monarch’s frail health and his need for regular medication.
According to the source, the kidnappers then instructed that his drugs be packaged and dropped at a designated location for onward delivery.
Tragically, before the community could act on the instructions, the gunmen struck again on Saturday morning, killing the three victims, who were vigilantes.
The vigilantes were said to be accompanying the telecoms staff to the site when they encountered the armed assailants in the bush, who opened fire immediately.
