Gunmen Kill 6, Raze Houses In Kogi Community

Six people were reportedly slain and houses razed in the early hours of Monday in Bagana village, Omala Local Government Area, Kogi State, in a continuous and organized onslaught by gunmen.

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that, a similar attack occurred less than a month ago, resulting in the deaths of nine people and the destruction of property worth millions of naira.

Hundreds of residents were forced to seek sanctuary in neighboring settlements as a result of the onslaught by gunmen, according to reports.

According to information obtained by iexclusive News Nigeria, the gunmen rushed straight to the home of one Chief Salifu Anyebe and set it on fire.

Three people were also killed by the attackers, including Madam Achebe Alih, also known as Mama Teacher.

It was also learned that Chief Salifu Anyebe is one of the traditional rulers whose stool was promoted to third class by the current administration four nights ago.

The inhabitants, who had recently returned to the village following a previous attack, scrambled for cover in the bushes during the early morning raid.

According to reports, the attackers planned to attack him during the proposed ceremony for the new title. They were linked to a clan opposed to his ascendancy.

However, according to reliable sources, word about the attack reached him, forcing the ceremony to be abruptly halted, but the attackers burned down his castle, his automobile, and other assets belonging to the chief and close relatives that lived in the same cluster as him.

Our source further learned that once the attackers fled, certain militias from adjacent towns were supposedly assembled, armed with sophisticated weapons, and began razing houses belonging to suspected opposing clans.

The Oga Onu Ife, a paramount ruler and the District Head of Bagana, Chief Alih Haruna, had his palace burned down as a result of the retaliation. Other homes belonging to prominent residents were also set ablaze by gunmen.

Locals claim that a house belonging to the District Councillor, Hon. Alidu Usman Idakwo, as well as those belonging to other tribes, were not spared.

A local, unable to hold back tears as he witnessed the government’s callous disregard for human life and property, bemoaned the government’s casual attitude.

He went on to say that since 2013, 300 people have died and property worth millions of naira has been damaged by gunmen.

The Special Adviser on Security to the Omala Local Government Area, Hon. Steve Shaibu, confirmed the death of six people while one person was critically injured and was evacuated to an undisclosed health facility in a nearby village while speaking with our correspondent.

On admittance, the Special Adviser named the deceased as Suleiman Baba, Yusuf Lere, Mrs Achebe Alih, Abubakar Salifu, Danlami Yahaya, and Ugbede Attah.

However, Alhaji Umar Bagana, the head of the Indigenous People of Bagana, bemoaned the recurrence of killings and property destruction since 2014, blaming the violence on clanish jingoists fighting for the town’s essence.

He urged Governor Yahaya Bello to carry out his orders for the Chiefs to return to their separate domains in order to stem the tide of violence in the community.

Meanwhile, the area was visited on Tuesday by the Commissioner of Police, Idrisu Dauda Dabban, and the Chairman of Omala Local Government, Hon. Ibrahim Aboh.

The Police Commissioner invited residents to come home, promising them that a quiet investigation had been launched to bring the offenders to justice.