By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than 19 persons have been killed by gunmen in a recent attack in Agojeju-Odo, a community in the Omala Local Government Council in Kogi East Senatorial District.
It was learnt that the incident occurred on Thursday when the armed assailants surrounded the community and proceeded to open fire, causing fatalities and setting houses ablaze.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Police Public Relation Officer of Kogi State Police Command William Aya , said the yet to be identified gunmen attacked Agojeju Odo community in Omala LGA on Thursday, noting that the Divisional Police Office of the local government informed him that nineteen people were killed while some sustained injured in the attack.
He stated that the Commissioner of Police Kogi State Police Command, CP Bethrand Onuoha has deployed more policemen to the communities, assuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act will be apprehended.
Meanwhile the locals said , the gunmen attacked sleepy town of Agojeju Odo in Omala local government area where men were killed and farm produce destroyed.
It was gathered that there was a misunderstanding between a young man in Agojeju-Odo with a Fulani herder on his farm after cattles ate up his yam tubers which resulted in a fight; the caretaker chairman intervened.
“Since then, the herders vowed that they will mobilize and get back and there has been apprehension,” sources said.
The community therefore appealed to Kogi state governor Usman Ododo and Security Agencies to come to their aid by deploying more security personnel to the area.