Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Isanlu, Kogi State — Armed bandits have collected a ₦6 million ransom from the family of Alabi Dada Babatege, a farmer widely known in his community as “Old Soldier,” yet failed to secure his release, residents and sources familiar with the case say. The abductors, according to family accounts, have since re‑established contact and demanded an additional ₦14 million plus two Bajaj motorcycles as prerequisites for releasing the victim.
The ordeal began on 12 December 2025, when Dada Babatege was reportedly kidnapped in the afternoon from his farm, located behind St. Kizito’s College in Isanlu, within Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State. Eyewitnesses described how the attackers struck in broad daylight, emerging suddenly and forcefully seizing the farmer before retreating into nearby bushes with him.
In the weeks that followed, the family engaged with the kidnappers and paid a ransom of ₦6 million in the belief that the payment would secure Babatege’s freedom. Residents say the money was delivered as instructed, but the bandits failed to release him, leaving relatives distraught and in a state of uncertainty.
More troubling for the family and the community is that the abductors have returned to demand further payment — a combined cash request of ₦14 million along with two Bajaj motorcycles — as new conditions for his release. Such escalating demands, residents say, reflect a pattern in which criminals leverage multiple rounds of extortion and shift terms even after payments are made.
As of this morning Babatege’s whereabouts remain unknown, and there has been no verified communication from the kidnappers regarding a release plan or defined timeline. Concerned locals have expressed deep anxiety over his welfare, given the duration of his captivity and the absence of credible information on his condition.
Community members in Isanlu and neighbouring villages told reporters that the incident has intensified fear and insecurity, particularly among farmers and residents who live near forest fringes and farmlands — areas repeatedly targeted by abductors exploiting sparse security coverage. Many recounted how the initial daylight abduction sent shockwaves through the town, with elders warning that such brazen attacks not only threaten individual safety but also undermine agricultural productivity in rural areas.
Calls for Urgent Security Intervention
The kidnapping has spurred urgent calls from residents for heightened security action by state and federal security agencies. Local leaders, including traditional rulers and community vigilante groups, have urged intensified patrols and intelligence‑driven operations to track the location of Babatege and dismantle the criminal network responsible.
“We are scared,” one resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “If they can take an elderly man in the open like that and still keep him after taking money, what hope do others have? The authorities must act.”
While Kogi State security officials have not publicly commented on this specific abduction as of this report, previous responses to similar incidents have involved collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Army and other security agencies in search and rescue missions as well as efforts to clamp down on kidnappers’ logistics.
The evolving situation has drawn attention to the broader challenge of kidnapping and banditry in parts of central Nigeria, where rural communities frequently confront armed criminal elements operating with relative impunity. Analysts say that criminal gangs often exploit unmonitored terrain and limited rural surveillance to carry out kidnappings, using ransom payments as a lucrative revenue stream that incentivises repeat offences.
Residents and family members are now anxiously awaiting a breakthrough, but as demands escalate and time passes, fears continue to mount for the safety of Alabi Dada Babatege — a farmer known affectionately in Isanlu as “Old Soldier” — and for the security of others living in vulnerable rural communities.
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