Muslim Gunmen Go On Murder Rampage Across Nigeria, Burn At Least Six Villages And Butcher 50 People In Two Days

No fewer than 50 persons have been confirmed killed by herdsmen in Kogi and Plateau states in the last 48 hours.

While the Nigerian Army confirmed 25 killed in Plateau in fresh attacks on Rafiki village, 25 were also reported killed in five communities in Kogi.

This is exclusive of the death of two female suicide bombers who blew themselves up in a failed attack in Maiduguri late Wednesday night, but injured nine persons in the process.

The killings came as 26 persons killed by herdsmen on March 5, 2018, at Omusu community, Ojigo, Benue State, were yesterday given mass burial by the state government, with Governor Samuel Ortom calling for an end to the senseless killings across the country.

The sustained and coordinated attacks in Kogi State occurred in Oganenugu, Iyale, Ojiapata in Dekina LGA and Obakume and Abejukolo in Omala LGA of the state; all in Igala land of Kogi East Senatorial District.

The attack in Kogi

The attack, which started on Tuesday evening and still ongoing, also saw a family of seven wiped out at Oganenugu, while five other communities in Omala Local Government Area were also reported to have been burnt down completely.

Vanguard gathered that the herdsmen first invaded Oganenugu, wiping out the family of seven on Tuesday evening.

While the villagers were still mourning, the headsmen, around 2 a.m. Wednesday, launched another round of attacks on the village, killing another 10 persons; with the death toll now placed at 17.

One person, Joshua Adejoh, was killed in Abejukolo, while the other three communities had, at least, two dead bodies each.

One of the villagers in Oganenugu, who was lucky to have escaped, said the herdsmen attacked the community in the early hours of Wednesday.

He said: “When the herdsmen invaded our community, we ran out of the community and saw some men in military uniform at a distance. Our hope of finding shelter with the ‘military men’ was dashed when they turned out to be herdsmen who slaughtered some of our villagers.

“The herdsmen came in boats with firearms, moving through two communities in the Oganenugu ward on Tuesday evening shooting, killing, and razing homes.”

He said many of the villagers, who were wounded, were left in the bush.

Vanguard gathered that soldiers have been drafted to the affected communities to restore calm.

However, another villager, Bala Julius, who fled from Iyale town, confirmed military presence in the community.

“Those on ground in many communities are members of local vigilance groups repelling the herdsmen wielding their AK-47 rifles. Many are missing after fleeing into bushes, so a clear figure of those dead or wounded is not immediately known,” he said.

Another source also said: “Herdsmen have invaded Oganenugu. They are in their hundreds and our people are almost being overwhelmed. At the same time, there is palpable tension in Omala.”

Confirming the attacks, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin), Kogi State Command, DCP Monday Kuryas, said his men had been drafted to the affected communities.

He, however, refused to confirm the casualty figures, promising to get back after normalcy would have been restored. (source, source)