From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Four persons have been killed , while Two others sustained various degrees of injuries by gunmen suspected to be bandits at Ofeapo along Idrisu -Bagana Road in Omala Local Government Area of kogi state.
The victims who were returning from the war torn Bagana market around 8.30pm on Thursday were ambushed and killed by suspected bandits.
The victims who were mainly traders where traveling in a motorbike popular known as keke Napep when gunmen opened fire on them at a close range , killing four on the spot , while the two lucky survivors have been carried to nearby medical facility.
However, the police Command spokesperson, SP. William Aya , while confirming the incident, said one person, –a rider of the motorcycle -was killed while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to medical facilities in Abejukolo, headquarters of Omala LGC.
He said, the Commissioner of police , CP Edward Egbuka has mobilised tactical squad and officers of the Division to the scene to possibly fish out the perpetrators.
The paramount ruler of Omala Local Government Area Traditional council, HRH Boniface Musa, the Ojogba of Ife condemned the dastardly act and pray to God to give the family of the victims fortitude to bear the loss.
He appealed to the state Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to as matter of urgency wade into the lingering Bagana crisis that has killed many people and rendered many homeless.
He urged the state Governor to implement the recommendations of the Col. Suleiman Babanawa (rtd) led committee , called for the deployment of the security agencies to Bagana town to forestall further bloodshed in the Communities.
According to the locals, those who were killed are two males and two females who are natives of Bagana but had to relocate to Abejukolo in the wake of the senseless killings in the Communities.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Kogi on Saturday said two more corpses had been recovered from the attack by bandits on traders in Bagana village, Omala Local Government Area, Kogi.
The spokesperson of Kogi Police Command, SP William Ovye-Aya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the discovery brought the number of persons killed during Thursday’s attack by bandits on traders to three.
Ovye-Aya, had on Friday told NAN that only one person, the Tricycle Rider, was killed while two traders were seriously injured in the incident.
“But I want to confirm to you and the public this morning of Saturday, Sept. 10 that the number of deaths has risen to three with the discovery of two more dead bodies by our personnel.
“Our earlier confirmation of one person against the wide speculation of four persons, was when the incident happened.”
“But when our personnel went on thorough search of the bush that two more corpses were recovered and reported to the Command.”
