Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have invaded Bakin Kogi village in the Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing four persons and injuring a woman.
Punch reports that a source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the incident occurred at about 10am on Sunday when worshippers were returning from church.
He said, “We heard gunshots at about 10am when we were coming back from the church. The victims, four in number, went to tap palm wine. It was on their way back that they were ambushed and killed.
“They died instantly while a woman was severely injured. She was rushed to a hospital in Kafanchan, where she is receiving treatment at the moment.”
A resident, James Aboki, gave another version of the story, saying that the gunmen invaded the village, shot sporadically at anyone in sight, killed four persons on the spot and injured one while others fled into safety.
Though the police in Kaduna confirmed the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu, said he had yet to get full details.
He said, “I am yet to get the report from the DPO. I am waiting for him. I also heard of the incident. So many reporters called me but I have to get the full details before I can release it to you.”
But as of the time of filing this report, he had yet to send the reaction.
Meanwhile, the Dr Fredrick Faseun faction of the Oodua People’s Congress in Ondo State has directed its members to form themselves into vigilante groups in their respective zones to prevent attacks by herdsmen.
Speaking at a meeting held at Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, the leader of the Faseun’s faction, Mr. Victor Egbeyemi, expressed worry over the attacks by herdsmen.
He said, “We should not wait until they start to kill our people before we plan to defend them. We want to reorganise ourselves to defend the interest of Yoruba people. Both the Aare Adams and Dr. Faseun’s factions must work together in the interest of the people.
“OPC members should get prepared whether there is war or not. The Fulani kidnapped people in Ore; they attacked the wife of our member in Akure North, and people are fleeing their farms because of the activities of the herdsmen. Chief Olu Falae’s farm was burnt; we should rise up to defend our territories.”
He however advised members not to take the law into their own hands but work with the law enforcement agencies to protect the state against invaders.
In another development, two out of the four mobile policemen that were declared missing after an attack by a suspected Fulani militia group were rescued on Sunday.
The policemen had been declared missing by the Benue State Police Command.
The militia group reportedly attacked a joint army, police and civil defence security team in Tse Akpan near Azege Tombo Council ward in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday night.
The state police command on Sunday confirmed that two of the missing security operatives had been rescued while the command was still searching for the other two.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the rescue of the two officers, disclosed that they were rescued after a gun duel with the attackers.
The command spokesman, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed that the attack occurred in the Logo Local Government Area of the state.
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