By Ayomide Otitoju
Armed men have abducted a 76-year-old retired Major of the Nigerian Army, Joe Ajayi, from his home in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, further fueling concerns over the rising wave of insecurity in the region.
Ajayi, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kabba-Bunu chapter, was taken at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday after gunmen reportedly stormed his residence, firing gunshots sporadically for over an hour before whisking him away to an unknown location.
Local residents described the attack as terrifying and expressed growing concern over Ajayi’s fragile health, given his advanced age and the physical and emotional toll captivity may impose.
The incident comes amid a surge in criminal activity across Okunland, an area within Kogi State’s North-Central region. It follows closely on the heels of warnings issued by the Okun Development Association (ODA), which recently sounded the alarm over increasing kidnappings, including the recent abduction of a first-class traditional ruler in Okoloke, Yagba West Local Government Area.
“This is a clear indication that the region is under siege,” a community source said, calling on both the Federal and state governments to intensify efforts to restore security.
Earlier this year, a local council member was kidnapped from his residence, and shortly afterward, three people and a child were abducted from a nearby farm, underscoring the persistent threats facing rural communities in the area.
In a related development, gunmen struck Okoloke again in the early hours of Tuesday—marking the third such attack in just seven days—abducting four individuals. Among the victims was a retiree and prominent community leader, Ezekiel Durojaiye, who was taken from his home in the nearby village of Okunran.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest attacks, but community leaders are demanding urgent action to prevent further deterioration of the security situation.
The spate of abductions has left residents living in fear and has intensified calls for coordinated security operations to protect vulnerable communities across Kogi State.
