Gunmen attacked the palace of a traditional ruler in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Wednesday night, firing sporadically before abducting the monarch.
The victim, identified as Mr. Emmanuel Omanji, the Sangarin Dari, was reportedly whisked away from his residence during the late-night raid by suspected bandits.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers were heavily armed and shot indiscriminately before forcefully taking the royal father to an unknown location.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel, said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has mobilised the command’s anti-kidnapping unit alongside military personnel and local vigilantes to launch a manhunt aimed at rescuing the abducted monarch and apprehending the culprits.
Nansel urged members of the public to provide any useful information that could aid the ongoing rescue operation.
The incident in Nasarawa comes just days after a separate abduction in Ondo State, where three members of the Deeper Life Bible Church in Akure North Local Government Area were kidnapped.
The victims were reportedly abducted on Monday evening while returning from a Bible study session in the Kasemola area of Ogbese community.
A source within the church confirmed the incident, stating, “Three of our members were kidnapped after the Bible study. The church has since mobilised prayer warriors to intercede for their safe return.”
The case has been reported to both the police and the Amotekun Corps.
Spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, also confirmed the abduction and said police operatives are actively searching the surrounding forests to locate and rescue the victims.
