Many feared dead and houses razed as gunmen attack Kogi community

An unspecified number of people are feared dead and hundreds of houses were burnt after gunmen in the early hours of Sunday, April 2, attacked Aloko, a community in Oganenigu Ward of Dekina Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. 

 Daily Trust reports that the assailants who came in hundreds started shooting anyone in sight and set houses ablaze on arrival. The Oganenigu Ward chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), James Adah, is said to be among those killed in the attack. 

 “There’s a humanitarian crises on our hands. Most of our people have run to Iyale, Ikpakpala, Odolu and host of others to take refuge, while others that have no place to go are stranded on the Abejukollo-Anyigba Road,” a resident of the community, Richard Adejo, says .

The state governor Yahaya Bello has called for calm over the attacks, describing “the vile and satanic attack as a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Oganenigu who have enjoyed relative peace and security for years. 

 “My administration will continue to face out crisis entrepreneurs from the state and ensure that those involved shall be brought to book under the laws. 

The government will never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in its resolves to rid the state of criminals,” he said The state police command is yet to react to this development.