The Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State has buried twenty-five victims which include two women and four children who were murdered by bandits who launched attack last Thursday.
Penpushing reports that District Head and Ochala Onu-Ife Bagaji Odo, Omala, Kogi, David Akpa made this known to journalists in his palace lamenting that the attack was barbaric and wicked given the way and manner the bandits unleashed mayhem on his people.
‘We are mourning our loved ones who were killed in cold blood. We have never had any misunderstanding either with bandits or with herdsmen before now. As it is now, we are living in fear, more so that we heard that they are coming to Bagaji Odo, where surviving victims are taking refuge. We are pleading with the federal and state governments to come to our aid and protect us from bandits’, he said.
Penpushing further reports that the District Head explained that the attack was the second in the year sending serious fears into residents, while it is recalled that a community member had alleged on Thursday that a running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits led to the onslaught on the sleepy towns of Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and environs.
The resident stated that the bandits destroyed farm produce with ease in an attempt to draw the communities into the running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits in the communities
Penpushing also reports that Special Adviser on Security to Governor Usman Ododo, Jerry Omodara said while speaking on the ugly incident said the Governor had ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
The Special Adviser pointed out that the killing of innocent and harmless residents of the community by alleged hired militiamen was very callous, unacceptable and condemnable, recalling that property; especially houses, vehicles, and crops were destroyed in the attack.
Penpushing reports that Omodara, however, appealed to the residents of Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring communities to remain calm with assurance that government and security agencies were on top of the situation.
The Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer Police, Williams Ovye-Aya, equally confirmed the attack and assured that security operatives were keeping vigil over the community to forestall further attacks.
“A tactical response team of the police, the military, and members of vigilance groups has been deployed in the area. Normalcy has since returned to the troubled community. Investigation into the incident has started to bring the perpetrators to book’, he said.
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