At least 19 people were reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen who attacked two Kogi communities, Abejukolo and Agojeju Odo, in Omala Local Government Area.

Several houses were reportedly razed by the assailants during the attack.

An eyewitness  disclosed in Lokoja, the state capital, on Friday, April 5, that the incident happened on Thursday, April 4, when the gunmen stormed the communities in what can be described as a “reprisal”, causing maximum damage.

It was learnt that the bandits who were in a battle with the Agatu militia in Benue state, were said to have extended their onslaught to the Bagaji, Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, and its environs, destroying farm produce belonging to residents of the communities.

A resident who reportedly lost his wife and children in the attack, lamented that the herders unleashed the attack on them, alleging that the people supported the Agatus against them.

Another resident who spoke to journalists on the condition that he would not like his identity to be exposed, begged Governor Usman Ododo and the security agencies to come to their aid.

They called for more security personnel to be deployed to the area.

He noted that the police in the local council area had been overwhelmed by the attackers.

*Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan reacts

Meanwhile, the senator representing Kogi-Central  at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned the recent violent attacks in the area where no fewer than 19 people have lost their lives.

Reacting to the incident, the lawmaker asked for a thorough investigation of the crisis to unearth the remote causes of the bloodletting and wanton destruction of property in the affected communities.

She equally called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to take immediate action to restore normalcy to the troubled communities.

Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan also offered her condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones as a result of the crisis, while calling for a thorough investigation into the remote causes of the crisis that led to the unwarranted killing of innocent citizens.

She emphasised the need for the security agencies to go after the masterminds of the heinous crime.

She also called on both the state and federal governments to intervene immediately to prevent any further escalation of the crisis, while urging the security agencies to use intelligence in the pursuit of the perpetrators of the heinous act.