In a shocking incident that has thrown the Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State into panic, suspected armed bandits stormed the palace of the Sangarin Dari, Mr. Emmanuel Omanji, and abducted the traditional ruler in a brazen night-time attack.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the assailants, believed to be gunrunners, arrived at the monarch’s residence under the cover of darkness on Wednesday night, firing sporadic gunshots to scare residents before whisking the royal father away to an unknown destination.
The invaders were said to be heavily armed, and their sudden incursion triggered chaos in the community as villagers fled for safety.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has since confirmed the incident. In a statement to journalists, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has mobilized a joint task force comprising the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the military, and local vigilantes to launch a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
“The CP has assured that the royal father will be rescued unhurt. He urges members of the public to assist security agencies with any credible information that could lead to the rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators,” Nansel stated.
Authorities have yet to disclose if any contact has been established with the kidnappers or if any demands have been made.
This latest abduction underscores the persistent security challenges confronting rural communities in Nasarawa State and the North Central region at large.
