Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen penultimate Sunday evening, at about 8.pm, invaded Bagaji-Odoh community, Omala local government,Kogi State,killing three persons and injuring others.
A Witness said, as soon as the gunmen entered the village, through Bagana axis of the community, they started shooting indiscriminately.
The names of those who were killed were given as: Lydia Umoru, Andrew Onuche and Esther.
The witness said on hearing the strange gun shots, many residents, including women and children ran into nearby buses and neighbouring communities for safety.
Another source said the herdsmen were accusing the villagers of harbouring some people from Benue State axis believed to have killed their cattle in recent past.
“So, in order to fish out the suspected cattle killers, these Fulani herdsmen invaded our village, and started shooting at our people”. The source added.
It was gathered that as at 10.pm on Sunday, soldiers were drafted from Abejukolo-Ife, the local government headquarters to the area.
However, those who took refuge in the bush earlier on Sunday ,began to return home by Monday morning, on hearing that soldiers were already on surveillance in the community.
Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer said the police have swung into action as they were on the trail of the bandits.
In another development, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed two persons in Benue State community .
The gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia invaded Atakpa community in Agatu Local Government .
This was barely 24 hours after herdsmen attacked Edikwu Ankpali in Apa LG, killing nine persons and a Mobile Police Officer in Otukpko LG.
Locals from Atakpa told newsmen that the incident which happened on Monday night have created fear among the villagers, forcing many to flee the community for fear of further attacks.
A local, Sunny, told newsmen on phone that the suspected armed herders invaded the community Monday night.
He said,”These fulani herdsmen invaded Atakpa community in Agatu LG Monday night and killed two youths who attempted to repel them.
“If you also recall, some communities in the neighbouring Apa LG were attacked on Friday and Sunday evenings killing several people.
“As a result of this, some of our youths who are members of vigilante group were on surveillance of Atakpa community when they encountered the herdsmen and in the process of repelling them, they shot and killed two of them.”
The chairman of Agatu LG, Melvin Ejeh, could not be reached at the time of filing this report, but the state Police Command has confirmed the attack.
Benue state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, who gave the confirmation, said one person was missing while another was injured.
She said,”Yes there was a report of attack on Atakpa community , nobody was killed,but a stray bullet hit one person who is now receiving treatment at the hospital while one other person is missing.
“However, search is ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators” she added.
However, apparently vexed by the continued killing of residents in the state in recent days, Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has directed security agencies to comb Benue bushes and apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to book.
Alia said the security agents must immediately commence coordinated operations to dislodge armed herders,terrorist camps identified in the forests around Apa, Otukpo, Gwer-West and other parts of the state.
The Governor gave this order while reacting to the brutal attacks on Edikwu-Ankpali, Ikobi, and Adija in Apa LG, as well as Upu village in Otukpo LG which left many dead.
He said the decisive directive is necessitated by the renewed waves of violent attacks on innocent communities, which he described as unacceptable and increasingly hydra-headed.
He noted that these criminal elements have exploited forested areas as operational bases to launch attacks, and must be flushed out without delay.
Alia, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, reaffirmed that the protection of lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of his administration.
He has therefore,mandated a sustained, intelligence-driven security crackdown aimed at neutralising all threats and restoring confidence among citizens, particularly in the affected local governments.
The Governor also assured residents that the state government is working in synergy with federal security agencies and would not relent until lasting peace is achieved.
He urged the people to remain vigilant, cooperate with security operatives and continue to provide credible information that will aid ongoing operations.
He commiserated with families who have lost their loved ones in the recent attacks, expressing his administration’s resolve to confront criminality head-on and ensure that Benue State is safe for all.
