Ten persons, including a traditional ruler, Onu Agbenema, Musa Edibo, and his wife, have been killed while many houses were razed by suspected herdsmen in separate attacks on Agbenema, Aj’Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages in Kogi State on Monday.
Agbenema is in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Punch reports that the attackers, who were allegedly armed with sophisticated weapons, were said to have hidden in the bush around these villages from where they launched attacks on their targets.
According to the natives, the herdsmen set the houses ablaze and opened fire on the fleeing inhabitants, slit some residents’ throats, and cut off parts of some of their victims.
The natives stated that the Administrator of Omala LGA, Ibrahim Aboh, escaped the attackers’ guns by a whisker.
It was gathered that the houses of a former chairman of the council, Adofu Stephen, and that of his parents were burnt.
The soldiers deployed in the areas to check killings by the herdsmen allegedly refused to repel the invading herdsmen.
One of the villagers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We were surprised when we approached the soldiers, who were stationed at the guest house at Abejukolo for assistance; they ignored us and even blocked the road with their vehicle, preventing us from getting 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 land. They have razed Ojuwo, Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages so that they could use our land for cattle colonies.
“Most villages in Omala, Dekina, and Bassa LGAs are being attacked; our people are being killed and houses burnt down, even as our women are being raped while many children are missing.”
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