ARMED gunmen believed to be Fulani cattle herders have abducted another Yoruba traditional ruler by kidnapping Oba Adebisi Oba­demi the monarch of Apaa-Bunu in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. 

Coming on the back of the recent abduction of Afenifere leader, former finance minister and presidential candidate Chief Olu Falae who was abducted near his farm in Akure the Ondo State capital, the latest incident has raised increased fears. Oba Obademi was said to have been abducted at about 7.30 am yesterday on his way to Odo–Ape, a sub­urb close to his domain. 

It is believed that the gunmen, numbering about five and suspected to be Fulani herdsmen might have whisked the tradition­al ruler on a motorbike to an unknown destination. His kidnapping was similar to that of Chief Olu Falae, 77, who was released last week after his family paid a ransom of N5m (£17,000). 

Local sources say that the kidnappers have contacted Oba Obademi's family to demand a ransom of N1m for his release. Family members and local traditional chiefs in the community have been meeting over the demand. 

One palace source said: “Yes, they have contacted the family demanding for a ransom. They told us that Kabiyesi is in safe hands and that we need to pay for his release and the abductors didn’t sound hostile during the conversation. 

"We may not want to make further statements in order not to jeopardize the efforts of the police in tracking the abductors. However, we have been meeting to ensure our royal father is released to us soon." 

Kogi State governor Idris Wada, said the spate of kidnapping in the area was getting alarm­ing and called on law en­forcement agents to be pro active in their activities. He also called on the police authorities to establish a permanent po­lice station in the area and decried the activities of Fulani herdsmen, who he alleged were frequently fo­menting trouble in the area. 

In addition, Governor Wada called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly address the issue of kidnapping in the country, saying law abiding citizens were now living in fear. One source close to the Kogi State police commissioner Emmanuel Ojukwu, con­firmed the incident but blamed the people in the area for allowing kidnap­ping to thrive. 

He added that when the police made attempts in previous kidnap incidents to launch an attack on kidnapper's hideouts, the peo­ple allegedly pleaded that they would rather pay the ransom to the kidnappers than exposing the victims to any form of hurt. However, Mr Ojukwu has vowed to flush out crimi­nals in the area even as he urged residents to report any suspicious movements.