25 killed as herdsmen attack Kogi communities

THE dreaded Fulani herdsmen ravaging the north central states have extended their operations to Kogi State as they invaded three communities in Dekina and Omala local government area leaving at least 25 people dead.

The communities attacked in Dekina include Oganenigu, Ojiapata, Iyale and Ojoo, while in Omala Obakume, Abejukolo, Agojeju-Ikpoba and Ogo were attacked.

The attacks were said to have left many missing as people in the affected and neighbouring communities fled for safety.

It was gathered that the attack was started midnight Wednesday when the people invaded Oganenigu through the waterway that led to the community.

The invaders were said to have come in boats and dressed in army uniform with sophisticated weapons, shooting, killing and razing houses.

The attack, according to sources, lasted several hours with women and children also victims.

Residents of the community that were able to escape the attack fled to the neighbouring Iyale community which was also not spared by the assailants.

Seventeen people were said to have died in the attack on Oganenigu, while the remaining were victims of attacks on other communities.

Also in Omala, suspected herdsmen were said to have killed the vice-chairman of the local vigilante group in Abujokolo, Joshua Adejoh on his farm.

Adejoh was said to have been macheted by the people who invaded his farm with their cows to graze when he resisted and cautioned against grazing on his farm.

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The development was said to have led to tension in the town as youths of the community were said to have mobilised against the Fulani herdsmen who also ran for safety, leaving their cows to wander about.

The deputy commissioner of police, Kogi State command, Monday Kuryas, confirmed the attacks on the communities.

He, however, said the command could not ascertain the figure of casualties involved as men had been drafted to the scenes of the attack.

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Following the development, the Uk’omu Igala socio-cultural association, the apex body of Igala associations, has expressed concerned and condemned the invasion of Igalaland by the rampaging herdsmen.

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The national president of the association, Gen Patrick Akpa (rtd), said the association had summoned an emergency meeting to deliberate on the development.

He said the leaders of Igalaland were disturbed about the wanton killing in their communities and would be meeting to consider ways of making the communities and the people more secure.

It was however learnt that military men deployed to the state for the “Ayam Akpatuma exercise” have been drafted in the troubled communities to maintain peace.