A traditional ruler in Kogi state, Musa Edibo, the Onu Okenwu of Agbenema community, his
wife and eight others have been reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen
duirng an attack on Agbenema, Aj’Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages, yesterday Monday March 19th.
Reports say that the gunmen who were in large numbers and armed
with sophisticated weapons, first set the homes of their victims
ablaze and then opened fire as they fled their homes.
According to the natives, the herdsmen mode of operation is to set the houses ablaze and open fire on the fleeing inhabitants, slit their throats with machetes and cut off vital parts of their victims.
Residents of the affected communities accused the military officers
stationed in their state of not being helpful during the attacks.
We were surprised when we approached the soldiers who were stationed
at the Guest House at Abejukolo for assistance. They refused to act
professionally, as they used their vehicle to block us from advancing to
the troubled spot to help our people. They have razed down Ojuwo
Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages. We want the world to
come to our assistance before they exterminate and inherit our land.” a resident said
“Right now, coordinated war is raging simultaneously in most villages in Omala, Dekina, and Bassa LGAs . Our people are being killed and houses burnt down, even as our women are being raped while many children who ran from the theatre of war were still missing.
“Since the attacks begun, we cannot go to the farms even markets have closed. Hunger has come to stay on our soil. If drastic measures are not done to quell this mad killings by these herdsmen, food insecurity will take over our land,” he lamented.