Suspected gunmen terrorising Nigeria’s middle belt region has kidnapped the Oba of Idofin, Shedrack Durojaiye Obibeni, and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, they were kidnapped along Makutu-Idofin road in Kogi State at about 5 pm on Monday.
Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, Yagba East Local Government Council Chairman, confirmed the incident, describing it as “very shocking” and “sad”.
He noted that the kidnapping has left the locals apprehensive and astounded as the municipal is well fortified security wise.
“I as the council chairman and the people of Yagba East are in great shock over the kidnap of our respected Oba and his wife this evening.
“This is because we in this LGA have a very robust security architecture keeping vigil and warding off criminal elements away from us”
He stated that the abduction was well coordinated and perfectly executed as the monarch and his wife were not out for long before they were kidnapped, noting that he and others would do everything humanly possible to secure the release of the troubled King.
“This incident was well planned by the kidnappers because from what I learnt, the Oba and his wife only moved out to see something, and in less than 10 minutes that incident happened.
“We smell a rat over this sad incident and we are not resting until we get to the criminal elements who did this dastardly act and rescue our traditional ruler and his wife,” he said.
The council boss said that already alerts and messages have been sent to all the traditional rulers and community leaders in Okun land to be vigilant and conduct a thorough search for the rescue of the couple.
Asiru said: “As we speak, our hunters and vigilante group are already out into the bushes searching for the criminals so as to rescue our Oba and his wife as soon as possible.”
The Kogi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, is yet to issue a statement on the incident.