A group of heavily armed gunmen, reported to be about eight in number and carrying AK-47 rifles, stormed the palace of Oba James Dada Ogunyanda in Okoloke community, Yagba West LGA, at approximately 2:00 a.m. . The assailants fired shots to scare off vigilantes before forcing their way into the palace and abducting the 97-year-old monarch.
15 Mar 2024 · Okoloke (Okunland), Yagba West, Kogi
Deaths
0
Injured
0
Kidnapped
1
Total casualties
0
Perpetrators
Unidentified Armed actors
Response
The Kogi Police Command confirmed the incident and launched a joint task force with local vigilantes and hunters to locate the monarch. The Chairman of Yagba West LGA, Tosin Olokun, condemned the abduction and appealed for calm
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
Weak security presence along the porous border between Kogi and Kwara States, which criminals exploit to access hideouts in forested areas
Trajectory
This incident was part of a broader wave of kidnappings targeting traditional rulers and elites in Okunland (Kogi West) in 2025. Within weeks of this incident, other prominent figures were abducted, including a retired Army major who was killed despite ransom payment . The monarch's release after 27 days highlights the prolonged negotiations often required in such cases, while the governor's direct intervention signals increased state-level response to abductions of high-profile traditional leaders
Cycle notes
The abduction of Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Obalohun of Okoloke in Yagba West LGA of Kogi directly echoed the 1 February 2024 killing of Oba Peter Segun Aremu-Cole, the Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, and reflects a sustained pattern of targeting traditional leaders in the North-Central region. This incident also connects to the 2 January 2018 abduction of Yohanna Sidi Kukah, the Agwom Akulu II of Ikulu in Kaduna State (released after 10 days); the 19 October 2018 killing of Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, the Agom Adara III of the Adara Chiefdom in Kaduna State (killed in captivity, corpse dumped 26 October 2018); the 27 November 2019 abduction of Mohammed Ibrahim Pada, the traditional ruler of Rubochi in Kuje Area Council of the FCT (released in December 2019); the 20 April 2020 kidnapping of Alhaji Shehu Sulaiman, the Pankwal Bogghom of Bogghon District in Kanam LGA of Plateau State; the 26 December 2021 abduction of Charles Mato Dakat, the Sum Pyem of Gindiri in Mangu LGA of Plateau State (released on 30 December 2021); the 16 January 2022 kidnapping of Da Gyang Balak Gut, the Da Gwom Rwei of Vwang District in Jos South LGA of Plateau State; and the 30 March 2022 abduction of Hassan Shamidozhi, the traditional ruler of Bukpe in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
Pattern
Traditional ruler kidnapping
Related — Kidnapping
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