From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than six persons were reportedly killed, and many houses razed down in a sustained attack by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Monday on Bagana village in omala Local government of kogi state.
It could be recalled that a similar attack occured barely a month ago leading to the death of about nine persons and property worth millions of naira destroyed, thereby forcing hundreds of inhabitants to seek refuge in neighbouring communities.
According to an eye witness, the attackers went straight to the House of one Chief Salifu Anyebe, whose stool in a fortnight ago was classified to third class – set the palace ablaze and in the process, shot three persons including one Madam Achebe Alih, AKA “Mama Teacher” to death.
It was gathered that, the attackers, who may have been allegedly linked to an ‘opposition clan’ to his ascendancy, had planned to attack him during the proposed ceremony of the title.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the information of the attack leaked to the upgraded chief, forcing the abrupt suspension of the proposed ceremony.
“Despite the suspension, the attackers went on to attack the palace leading to complete burning down of his palace, his car and other valuable Properties belonging to the chief and close families that lived in cluster with him.” Eye witness said.
Daybreak equally gathered that immediately the attackers left, some militias from nearby communities were allegedly mobilised, armed with sophisticated weapons and combustible materials, went on burning spree razing down houses belonging to the suspected clans and those ‘on the fence’ in the ongoing crisis .
Our Correspondent reliably gathered, that the reprisal led to the burning down of the palace of the Oga Onu Ife, a paramount ruler and the District Head of Bagana, Chief Alih Haruna, and other houses belonging to some notable inhabitants.
According to the locals, a House belonging to the Serving Councillor, representing the District, Hon. Alidu Usman Idakwo and those of other tribes were not spared.
A local who could not hold back tears over the wanton destruction of lives and property lamented at the nonchalant attitude of the government whom he alleged were only waiting to commiserate with the people rather than taking divisive action against the perpetrators.
He added that since 2013 that the crisis erupted as Fulani herders and farmers clashes which later generated into ethnic and Clannish cleansing, lamented that no fewer than 300 persons have loss their lives and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
In his reaction, the Special Adviser on Security to the Omala LGA, Hon. Steve Shaibu confirmed the death of six persons while one person was critically injured and has been evacuated to undisclosed health facility in a nearby village.
The Special Adviser gave the names of the deceased as Suleiman Baba, Yusuf Lere, Mrs Achebe Alih, Abubakar Salifu, while Danlami Yahaya and Ugbede Attah are receiving treatment in an undisclosed health care.
The leader of Indigenous people of Bagana, Alhaji Umar Bagana called on Governor Yahaya Bello to enforce his directives to the Chiefs to relocate to their respective domain as a measure to tame the tide of violence being unleashed on the Community.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Idrisu Dauda Dabban in company of the chairman of Omala LGA Hon. Ibrahim Aboh had on Tuesday visited the area and as usual assured the people to return home that peace, of the graveyard- has returned, adding that the police have commenced discreet investigation to bring the perpetrators to book.
