A yet-to-be-identified gunmen suspected to be armed bandits have attacked two communities in Kogi State, killing one resident and injuring two others. The affected communities are Edede and Ojapata, both in Oganenigu, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Details of the Attack
The gunmen stormed the communities at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, shooting dead one Nasiru Ulayi. They also razed several residential houses in Ojapata and Edede, rendering many residents homeless and forcing them into displaced camps.
Ambush on Vigilante Members
In a similar attack, gunmen ambushed two members of the local vigilante in Onitcha-Igo, Ofu Local Government Area of the state. The vigilante members, who were on routine patrol, unconsciously walked into the ambush, and the gunmen opened fire on both of them. The vigilante members skillfully escaped the hail of bullets but were fatally wounded during the attack.
The Guardian learned that the vigilante men were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH) Lokoja for urgent medical attention. One of the victims is currently undergoing surgery as medical personnel battle to treat a bone fracture.
Rising Criminal Activities
Eyewitnesses reported growing activities of kidnappers in the affected communities. “The kidnappers in these local communities are brazen and determined to flourish in their trade, not minding the presence of security,” one source said.
However, the Kogi State Police Command was not available to confirm the incident, as the contact line of the Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Oyiza Saliu, was not going through the network.
