Gunmen abduct HRH David Wada, Bagaji Odo monarch in Kogi State, while returning from a council meeting. Security forces and vigilantes search for him
HRH David Wada, the second-class traditional ruler and District Head of Bagaji Odo in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, has been abducted by unknown gunmen.
The incident, which has heightened fears over security in the region, occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Monday, September 1, 2025.
According to gathered reports, the monarch was returning from a crucial traditional council meeting held in Abejukolo, the administrative headquarters of Omala LGA, when he was waylaid at Ojuwo Ugweche.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers confronted him at gunpoint, forcibly removing him from his entourage and taking him into the surrounding bush.
Locals explained that HRH Wada was being conveyed by a motorcycle rider who miraculously managed to escape unhurt.
Ojuwo Ugweche has a history of kidnappings, and while the area is usually monitored by vigilante groups and security personnel, no operatives were present at the scene during this latest abduction, raising questions about security lapses in the community.
The paramount ruler of Omala Local Government, HRH Boniface Musa, the Onu Ife, confirmed the kidnapping and expressed deep concern over the safety of HRH Wada.
He appealed to the state and federal security agencies to urgently intervene and ensure the safe release of the abducted monarch, emphasizing the need to restore public confidence in the region’s security apparatus.
The Kogi State Police Command also verified the abduction. Spokesperson SP Williams Aya stated that the command had immediately mobilized law enforcement personnel, local hunters, and vigilante groups to conduct a thorough search of the bush and surrounding areas.
SP Aya assured the public that every possible effort is being made to secure HRH Wada’s release and bring the kidnappers to justice.
Security analysts have warned that incidents like this underscore the ongoing challenges facing rural communities in Kogi State, where traditional leaders often become targets due to their perceived influence and resources.
Residents of Bagaji Odo and neighboring communities have expressed alarm and called for increased patrols and preventive measures to curb the rising wave of kidnappings in the area.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction, while family members, local chiefs, and community leaders remain hopeful for the monarch’s safe return.