From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Angry youth from Oforachi community in Idah local government area of Kogi state in a reprisal attack allegedly killed four Fulani herdsmen and dumped their bodies in Ofu river following the killing of one Godwin Egbunu, 65 on his farm by Fulani herdsmen.
It was gathered from an eye witness, one Mr. Audu that the incident took place last week Friday when the farmer was attacked by some Fulanis herdsmen who invaded his farm land, destroyed all the crops.
According to him, the farmer went to police station to report and two policemen were detailed to accompany late Egnunu to his farm and on getting there, suspected herdsmen attacked the farmer right in presence of the policemen and killed him.
According to him, angered by the killing of the farmer, youth allegedly killed four Fulani men in retaliation, while the apolice men said they could not stop the attack on the farmer because they were not armed.
A community resident also confirm that members of the community no longer sleep but are keeping vigil to prevent Fulani’s attack at night in retaliation of their brothers death.
Communities such as Ogbogbo, Odolu, Akpanya, that are close to Oforachi are now living in fear as a result of possible reprisal attack by the Fulani herdsmen.
Kogi state has witnesses different attacks in respective communities in the last five years, with Tarawi and Oforachi been the latest.
Meanwhile the Public Relations Officer of Kogi State Police Command, Mr Williams Anya in a press statement confirmed the incident on Monday.
According to him, on the 18 January 2020 at about 0700hrs, call was received from Oforachi that unknown persons suspected to be herdsmen killed one Godwin Egbunu aged 65 of same addressed at his farm and as a result angry youths from the village began attacking any Fulani on sight.
He said SUPOL stationed at Ajaka immediately mobilised his personnel to scene and rescussd two fulani men from the mob but seriously injured.
DSP Ayah said the injured fulani men were rushed to Idah hospital for treatment while the area Command Idah equally mobilized personnel from divisions under his command PMF SARS Operatives reinforced team on ground.
He also said One Mohammed Arade a fulani man of Egabada village reported at the Ajaka police station that two of their men namely Abubakar Nahare aged 65 years and Hassan Natunku aged 60 years were not seen since when the incident happened.
He said immediately a search party led by the Acting Area Commander Idah swung into action as the corpse of the two missing fulani men were recovered from inside Ofu river at Oforachi with their hands tied into nine inches block.
He said the photographs of the deceased was taken and their corpse taken to general hospital mortuary for autopsy as investigation continue.
” Normalcy have since been restored in the community as Police command has taken over the security of area.”
