Hyacinth Chinweuba
Suspected Fulani herdsmen have struck in three communities in Dekina and Omala local government areas of Kogi State, killing at least 25 people dead.
The communities attacked in Dekina LG included Oganenigu, Ojiapata, Iyale and Ojoo, while in Omala LG, Obakume, Abejukolo, Agojeju-Ikpoba and Ogo were attacked between Wednesday night and Thursday.
The attacks were said to have left many missing as people in the affected and neighbouring communities fled for safety.
First to be attacked was said to be Oganenigu, which was accessed through the waterway.
The invaders were said to have come in boats and dressed in army uniform with sophisticated weapons, shooting, killing and razing houses.
The attack, according to sources, lasted several hours, with women and children also victims.
Residents of the community that were able to escape the attack fled to the neighbouring Iyale community, which was also not spared by the assailants.
Seventeen people were said to have died in the attack on Oganenigu, while the remaining were victims of attacks on other communities.
Also in Omala, suspected herdsmen were said to have killed the vice-chairman of the local vigilante group in Abujokolo, Joshua Adejoh, on his farm.
Adejoh was said to have been attacked with machetes by the people who invaded his farm with their cows to graze when he resisted and cautioned against grazing on his farm.
The development was said to have led to tension in the town as youths of the community were said to have mobilised against the Fulani herdsmen, who also ran for safety, leaving their cows to wander about.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kogi State command, Monday Kuryas, confirmed the attacks on the communities.
Kuryas, however, said the command could not ascertain the figure of casualties involved as men had been drafted to the scenes of the attack.