Gunmen demand N100m after kidnap of Kogi family members

Suspected bandits have attacked the Isanlu community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting three family members.

The gunmen reportedly kidnapped a woman and her two children, while her husband, Tokpe Gody, escaped with bullet wounds from two gunshots sustained.

A member of the Kogi State Vigilante agency, who confirmed the incident on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen struck at about 2 am on Friday.

The source said that while the woman’s husband had been rushed to a hospital within the community, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100m to release the attack victims.

The local security source hinted that Gody was in a critical condition at the hospital, and he might be taken to Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja for proper treatment.

The PUNCH reports that bandits have sustained attacks on Okun land since May, when the paramount ruler of Okeloke was abducted.

Two police officers and two Local officials were killed in Atan on Ilafin road from Makutu Isanlu on the way to Odogbe, Yagba East, on Friday, September 19.

Efforts to get confirmation from the state police command proved abortive as repeated calls to both the Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, and the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, rang out.

They also did not respond to text messages sent to them.

However, the state Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara, said he was not aware of the fresh attack.

“I will find out, but we are giving the bandits hot pursuit, and we have recorded significant success in the last month.

“Right now, we have chased them as far as Kwara in our efforts to rid the state of kidnappers, bandits and other criminals,” he said.(Punch)