BOMADI, Delta State — Tension has gripped the riverside town of Bomadi after a senior Army officer, identified only as Lt.-Col. Josiah, was kidnapped from his lodge shortly after attending a marriage ceremony in the area.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday (around 2 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.) at a lodge in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses said a group of armed men stormed the lodge, searched rooms, seized phones from guests, and forcefully abducted the officer.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity, the kidnappers fired several gunshots before escaping with the officer in a waiting vehicle. Bloodstains were reportedly found on the ground after they left.
“They searched every room, took away phones, and dragged the officer outside. They shot into the air before zooming off with him,” the source said.
Lt.-Col. Josiah had earlier attended a wedding in Kpakiama community, near Bomadi, before returning to his lodge.
The following day, soldiers from the Joint Task Force (JTF) traced the kidnappers’ vehicle to Tuomo community, along the Tuomo–Ogbobagbene–Tamigbe–Torugbene–Ojobo road. The abandoned vehicle was later recovered and moved to the JTF base at Bomadi-Overside.
Since the abduction, soldiers have been patrolling Bomadi and surrounding communities. However, the heavy military presence has left residents worried about possible “transferred aggression”, where ordinary citizens may suffer harassment as security forces intensify their search.
Efforts to reach the military for official comments were unsuccessful. Captain Jubril, spokesperson of the 63 Brigade in Delta State, did not pick calls or respond to WhatsApp messages as at the time of filing this report.
The whereabouts of Lt.-Col. Josiah remain unknown, and the kidnappers are yet to make any demands.
