Fear gripped residents of Dari community in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following a brazen night attack on the palace of a traditional ruler, during which armed men suspected to be Fulani bandits abducted the monarch, Mr. Emmanuel Omanji, the Sangarin Dari.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, threw the community into panic as the assailants stormed the palace in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately into the air to create chaos and instill fear among locals. Eyewitnesses told KIIN360 that the gunmen were heavily armed and operated under the cover of darkness. The traditional ruler was reportedly whipped and forcefully taken away by the attackers to an unknown location.
Confirming the attack, the Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Superintendent Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has since ordered an immediate deployment of tactical teams to commence a rigorous search and rescue operation.
SP Nansel said that the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, has been mobilised to comb suspected hideouts within and around the Kokona axis to track down the abductors and ensure the safe return of the traditional ruler.
“The Command is not relenting in its efforts. We are working round the clock to rescue the victim unhurt. The Commissioner of Police has assured the people of Nasarawa State that justice will be served and the perpetrators will face the full weight of the law,” Nansel said.
He also appealed to the public to remain calm and vigilant, urging anyone with credible information that could aid the investigation or lead to the rescue of the monarch to promptly report to the nearest security agency.
This incident adds to the growing concern over rising insecurity in parts of the North Central region, where rural communities and traditional leaders have increasingly come under attack by armed groups. Residents are calling on both state and federal authorities to intensify security surveillance and strengthen the presence of law enforcement in vulnerable areas to forestall further incidents.
As at the time of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and the whereabouts of the monarch remain unknown.
