Nasarawa Monarch Abducted By Gunmen In Daring Late-Night Raid.
In a shocking incident, Emmanuel Omanji, the traditional ruler of Kokona Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, known as the Sangarin Dari, was abducted from his residence in Dari, the local government headquarters, on Wednesday night. The kidnapping occurred between 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm, with gunmen suspected to be kidnappers storming the palace in large numbers.
According to an eyewitness, the assailants fired shots into the air to intimidate residents and deter any security intervention before whisking the monarch away. “The kidnappers stormed the palace and fired sporadically to scare people, and took the king away,” confirmed Dr. John Mamman, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Education, in a phone call with journalists.
The abduction has sent shockwaves through the community, coming just three months after Omanji was crowned Sangarin Dari by the college of selectors and formally appointed by the Nasarawa State Government. The Nasarawa State Police Command has swiftly responded, with Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammed deploying the anti-kidnapping unit, military personnel, and local vigilantes to launch a search-and-rescue operation aimed at securing the monarch’s release and apprehending the culprits.
SP Ramhan Nansel, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, stating, “I confirm that this incident happened yesterday.” He appealed to the public for any information that could aid the rescue efforts, assuring confidentiality for informants.
The kidnapping adds to the growing wave of insecurity in Nasarawa State, where abductions and communal clashes have become alarmingly frequent. Armed gangs have increasingly targeted villages, highways, and schools, demanding hefty ransoms from victims’ families. The state government and security forces now face mounting pressure to curb the rising tide of violence and restore safety to the region.