Kogi East under siege of kidnappers as four citizens abducted in two weeks

Former Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Council, Barrister Isaac Emmanuel Ekpa was kidnapped close to Ochadamu in Ofu Local Government Council in Kogi East Senatorual District on Saturday.

His abduction came within 24 hours after the Eje of Ankpa, Alhaji Shaibu Usman was kidnapped in a mosque by some gunmen. Eje was said to have been trailed by the gunmen to the mosque and was kidnapped when he was about to observe his morning prayer.

Also, Justice Zakariya Idakwoji (rtd), and his driver were kidnapped two Sundays ago afternoon at Okabo along Anyigba – Ajaokuta road while on way to his village.

However, kidnappers of Barrister Ekpa have initially demanded for N25 million ransom, a family source said, they were sourcing for N1 million for his release.

Sources said, the family does not have money now having lost his father which he was making preparations for his burial before he was abducted.

More so, CAPITAL POST reports that two medical doctors who were kidnapped much earlier in the month of October were rescued by the Police.

Those rescued, precisely on 12th October, 2020, according to Kogi State Police Command’s spokesman, Williams Aya are Ejike Mgbeahurike who was kidnapped from his private clinic in Anyigba, and Doctor Yahaya Ebiloma who was kidnapped at Ankpa.

When contacted, Spokesman for Kogi State Police Command, Williams Ayah, confirmed the abduction, saying a patrol team attached to the Ofu area discovered an abandoned car along the road in Ochadamu area.

He said that on close scrutiny, they found an abandoned ID card in the vehicle bearing the name Emmanuel Isaac Ekpa, apparently indicating he was kidnapped by gunmen.

He said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Edeh had directed men of the command to track the culprits and rescue the victim.

Reacting to the development, an Ankpa based Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress who didn’t want his named disclosed, blamed government for insecurity, saying that arms which were distributed to thugs were not surrendered after the election.

He lamented that security agents have intelligence information of arms and ammunition in wrong hands, in Kogi State, but does nothing because they are also been compromised.

“We are all living witnesses to the happenings during elections where guns are distributed to thugs for election. Unfortunately, the arms bearing thugs don’t surrender them and that is what we are seeing”, he said.