In a shocking incident that has heightened security concerns in Kogi State, Arome Adaji, a prominent youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his wife, Justina, were abducted from their residence in Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area. The armed assault occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, as gunmen stormed the couple's home along Ajegwuna Road, firing shots to intimidate neighbours before making their escape with the victims.

Witnesses reported that the couple was at home when the attack unfolded. A resident, identified as Ndamodu, recounted that the shooting caused panic in the area, with neighbours hesitating to emerge until the assailants had fled. It was only after the gunmen left that the community discovered the couple had been taken.

The abduction of Adaji and his wife is part of a troubling trend in Kogi State, where kidnappers have increasingly shifted their focus from roads to residential areas and farms. Surveyor Eneogba, a community leader, noted that this change in tactics is likely due to heightened security measures on major roads, which have pressured criminal groups to target homes and agricultural settlements instead.

This incident is not isolated, as Kogi State has witnessed a series of kidnappings in recent weeks. Notably, a woman and her four children were seized while returning from a burial ceremony in the same region, only to be released after a ransom was paid. The situation has raised alarm among residents, who are now living in fear of similar attacks.

The recent kidnapping also follows the tragic case of Rosemary Adukwu, a councillor who was abducted on September 30 while traveling to Onitsha. She was later confirmed dead while in captivity, highlighting the severe risks associated with such crimes in the area.

In response to the latest abduction, the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, Saliu Oyiza Afusat, acknowledged the situation but did not provide further details regarding efforts to rescue the victims or apprehend the kidnappers. The police have launched joint security operations aimed at addressing the rising wave of kidnappings in the state.

As the community grapples with this alarming trend, residents are calling for increased security measures to protect them from the growing threat of kidnappers targeting homes and families in Kogi State.