The district head and traditional ruler, the Ochala Oni ife of Bagaji Odo in Omala Local Government Area, HRH David Akpa, said herdsmen were behind the killing of 25 people in the Agojeju-Odo community.
The second-class monarch, who spoke to a correspondent when they visited the community on Saturday for an on-the-spot assessment after the Thursday attack, said the Agojeju-Odo community has been completely deserted.
According to him, the residents of the affected community have relocated to Bagaji Odo, Abejikolo, Acha, and other neighbouring communities over fear of further attack.
“The herdsmen are behind the attack at the Agojeju-Odo community, which led to the deaths of 25 people. They came in their numbers and started killing people.
“They have been harvesting our crops, preventing our people from having access to their farms. Whenever they come, they will be asking, Are you from Agatu and many more?”
He called on the government to provide security for his people, as there is anxiety about another attack in his community and its environs.
The government should come to our rescue before things get out of hand. Our people are being killed by these herdsmen.
Those that have relocated to Bagaji Odo are thinking of relocating out of here because there is information that these herdsmen are coming here to attack,” he pleaded.
Some of the survivors of the attack, who gave their names as Joshua Salifu, Achebu Paul, and Patient Akao, narrated what happened.
“The herdsmen came at about 3-4 on Thursday and started killing our people. I have yet to find my wife and my children. About 25 people were buried in our village.
“We don’t know what our problem is with them. This is not the first time they have attacked us. They killed four of our people the last time before the Thursday incident.
“We could no longer go to our farmland, and the rain is fast approaching. What are we going to do? The government should help us with adequate security so that we can go back to our community,” they stated.
It could be recalled that suspected gunmen in January 2024 attacked the Agojeju-Odo community, killing four people.
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