ByThe gruesome killings in Kogi state continued yesterday, with 10 persons, including a traditional ruler, Chief Musa Edibo, and his wife, killed in a fresh attack by suspected herdsmen in separate attacks on Agbenema, Aj’Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages, in Omala Local Government Area of the state.
The killings came barely 48 hours after the state Governor; Yahaya Bello visited the troubled area of Oganenigu where over 25 persons were massacred. Edibo, was until his death, the traditional ruler of Agbenema. Also in the ensuing melee yesterday, houses and other valuables were razed by the hoodlums.
The attackers, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, reportedly launched the attacks on their targets, and shooting sporadically into the air to ward off possible resistance from their victims. According to a source who painted a gory picture of the scenario, the herdsmen allegedly set houses ablaze and opened fire on fleeing inhabitants, and killing others by slitting their throats and severing their vital parts.
The source, who asked not to be named in print for security reasons, added that the Administrator of Omala Local Government, Hon. Ibrahim Aboh, escaped the attackers by the whiskers. “We were surprised when we approached the soldiers who were stationed at the Guest Nations High Commission for Refugees Camp, while the remaining four died at the LGEA Gbajimba camp. Over 160, 000 persons have been displaced since the beginning of this year following attacks by herdsmen militia on communities in Guma, Logo, Okpokwu, Makurdi and Agatu local government areas of the state. The state government had, in the wake of the attacks, opened eight camps across the affected areas to carter for the IDPs. Governor Ortom, during the tour, said more than 50 communities affected across the five local governments, have since been deserted following the herdsmen’s attacks.
He said the IDPs were still afraid of returning home because they get killed by the hoodlums whenever they attempted going back. “The communities are still deserted because herdsmen usually come in the night to attack and those who attempted to return also get killed.
“This is still happening because there is inadequate security to cover the affected communities and prevent attacks by the herdsmen on the villages.” House at Abejukolo, and they refused to act professionally, as they instead, used their vehicle to block us from advancing to the troubled spot to help our people. “It is clear that the aim of the Fulani herdsmen is to kill us and take over our ancestral homes.
They have razed down Ojuwo-Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages. “Since the attacks started, we cannot go to the farms and even our markets have closed. Hunger has come to stay on our soil. If drastic measures are not taken to quell these mad killings by these herdsmen, food insecurity will take over our land,” the source said. Several calls put across to the GSM line of the local government administrator proved abortive as he could not be reached.
