Scores killed as gunmen attack Kogi community, the second in two months

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia have reportedly killed scores of people in a recent attack on Agojeju-Odo, a community in the Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to Persecondnews, this will be the gunmen’s second attack on the community in two months.

According to reports, the armed men surrounded the community in the early hours of Friday, shooting sporadically and setting houses ablaze.

According to reports, local vigilantes have started a search for missing people in the nearby bushes after recovering about 27 bodies.

The state command’s spokesman, SP William Ovye Aya, confirmed the incident to newsmen, saying the Police Commissioner has promptly deployed the tactical squad to the location in order to restore order.

The tactical squad, consisting of mobile police, soldiers, and vigilante men, were dispatched following a distress call, he said.

He, however, did not disclose the number of casualties but confirmed that so many people sustained gunshot injuries.

Meanwhile, following the attack on Agojeju-Odo, neighbouring communities like Ajokpachi Odo and Bagaji, all in the Omala local government area, are currently deserted.

Persecondnews reports that this is one of the few attacks that have happened since Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo took office.

An armed militia reportedly attacked the Bagaji-Odoh district in the Agojeju-Odo community in Omala LGA on January 30, 2024, killing four people.

A member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Yahaya, while briefing newsmen on the attack, claimed that over 100 gunmen invaded the community to launch the attack at about 3:30 p.m.

According to him, the gunmen entered the community via the eastern part of the town, which bothers Nasarawa and Benue states, and shot sporadically.

He condemned the incident, describing the recent attack in his constituency as one too many.

He said: “At about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the 30th of January 2024, the peaceful community of Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala LGA was attacked by Fulani herdsmen numbering over 150.

“The Militant Herdsmen took the village by surprise and were shooting sporadically as they invaded the village in broad daylight through the eastern part of the town.

“During the attack, a sick woman who was on admission in a local private clinic (St. Peter Clinic) was slaughtered. Two men, namely, Mr. Attai John Idagboyi and Mr. Daniel Shuaibu, were also gruesomely murdered.

“The remains of a man were also found butchered in the bush, bringing the total number of dead to four; that is, one woman and three men.

“They came in through Bagana in Omala LGA which borders the Agatu area of Benue and Umasha communities in Nasarawa States.

“The Bagana community has been under attack for a long period now, and some of our people have not been able to return home for many years now due to the incessant attacks by these Fulani herdsmen militants.”

He requested the state governor’s support in directing the Commissioner of Police and other heads of security agencies to be deployed to provide armed security personnel to the affected area.

In a similar development, gunmen on March 9, 2024, attacked two commercial banks in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area, killing one police officer and one other civilian.