Okoloke Under Siege as Gunmen Attack Community Thrice in A Week
The people of Okoloke, an agrarian community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, are living in fear as gunmen have attacked the community for the third time in seven days, abducting four persons.
The latest incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when an unidentified number of armed men stormed the area, bringing terror to the residents.
According to a local source, the assailants forced their way into the residence of Ezekiel Durojaiye, a retiree and respected community leader in nearby Okunran village.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the gunmen arrived at the community around 1:00 am, shooting sporadically into the air to announce their presence.
“They came in large numbers, and their guns were blazing. They went straight to the house of Ezekiel Durojaiye, a respected elder in our community, and took him away, along with three other persons,” the source said.
The identities of the other three abducted persons have not been disclosed, but it is believed that they are all members of the community.
The source said that the gunmen did not demand any ransom before taking their victims away, fueling fears that they may be taken to an unknown destination.
This is the third time in seven days that the community has been attacked by gunmen. On Thursday last week, gunmen attacked the community, killing one person and abducting two others.
The following day, another attack occurred, resulting in the abduction of three persons.
The repeated attacks on the community have left the residents in a state of panic, with many fleeing their homes for fear of being targeted.
The community has called on the government to provide them with adequate security, saying that they can no longer live in fear of being attacked at any moment.
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the latest attack, saying that they are working to rescue the abducted persons and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP William Aya, said that the police are doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the abducted persons and to prevent further attacks on the community.
The state government has also condemned the attacks, saying that they are working to improve security in the area.
The government has promised to deploy more security personnel to the community and to work with the police to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The repeated attacks on Okoloke community have raised concerns about the security situation in Kogi State, with many calling on the government to do more to protect the lives and properties of citizens.
The incident has also sparked fears of a possible resurgence of kidnapping and banditry in the state, which had been relatively calm in recent months.
