Fulani herdsmen attacks Kogi, kill 25

Communities Ogane-Enugu and Ikende in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state were on Wednesday thrown into tears and sorrows when some Suspected Fulani herdsmen unleased terror slaughtering and hacking down their victims.

The suspected herdsmen were said to have attacked the community at late hours of the night when everyone in the communities must have slept off.

Governor Yahaya Bello had last year November issued an out a ‘come and stay’ cards to all Fulani Herdsmen who are been chased away in some state.

The governor who also directed that the herdsmen must have a seat in 21 local governments councils, also declared open Kogi state for Cattle Colony.

In disregard to future implication of his decision, Governor Bello threatened to strip off any local government Administrator and chiefs, should any violence erupt in their various domain.

He also followed this up in February when he presented a certificate of occupancy covering 15,000 hectares to the Minister for Agriculture, Audu Ogbe for the establishment of the proposed cattle colony in the state.

Meanwhile, 25 persons were said to have been mowed by the attacking herdsmen.
Other communities left in tears and blood includes; Abejukolo in Omala local government area all in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.

As at the time of this report villagers were reportedly moving out of Obakume, Idirisu, and Oji Apata to escape the rampaging Fulani herdsmen, while other communities who are yet to run away, leave in fears.

It was learnt that the mode of killing employed by the hoodlums was to slaughter the victims after tying them up while those who attempt to escape received matches cuts.

Our source said that villagers were woken up by sporadic gunshot by the hoodlums dressed in army uniforms.

Our correspondent also gathered that gunmen armed with AK 47 had earlier in the day visited mayhem on the villagers in their farms before returning in the night to accomplished their mission around 1am while they were asleep.

Several houses were razed, others outrightly demolished in the orgy of violence.
The Deputy Commissioner of police in the state Monday Bala who confirmed the incident, however, said that the command was yet to ascertain the actual casualty figure.

He said that the command has drafted men of the command alongside men of the armed forces to deal with the situation, adding that his men are in total control of the situation.

New Telegraph has learnt that situation is relatively calm following the detachment soldiers drafted to these communities to quell the killings.