Four killed, others injured as bandits ambush traders in Kogi

Four persons have been reportedly killed while two others sustained serious injury as suspected bandits laid ambush at Ofeapo along Idrisu-Bagana road in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The bandits were said to have waylaid those returning from the war-torn Bagana market and opened fire, killing four persons and injuring two others.

The victims who were mainly traders were travelling on a tricycle popularly known as Keke NAPEP when gunmen opened fire on them at a close range, killing four on the spot, while the two lucky survivors have been evacuated to a nearby medical facility.

However, the Police Command spokesperson, William Aya, while confirming the incident, said one person, a rider of the tricycle, was killed while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to medical facilities in Abejukolo, headquarters of Omala LGA.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, has mobilised a tactical squad and officers of the Division to the scene to possibly fish out the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of Omala Local Government Area Traditional council, HRH Boniface Musa, the Ojogba of Ife condemned the dastardly act and pray to God to give the family of the victims’ fortitude to bear the loss.

He decried the incessant attacks on the Bagana people by unknown gunmen, lamenting that this killing has taken the peace process back, at a time when all hands have been on deck for the safe return of the Internally displaced persons IDP to their homes.

He appealed to the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to as a matter of urgency wade into the lingering Bagana crisis that has killed tens of people and rendered many homeless.

According to the locals, those who were killed are two males and two females who are natives of Bagana but had to relocate to Abejukolo in the wake of the senseless killings in the Communities.

The locals lamented at the killing which they said, is one too many for a community that has been under siege for more than a decade.

While speaking to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity and amidst sobbing, the locals decried the barbaric actions of the assailants who shot and killed Zainabu Abdullahi in front of her six-month-old child and chopped off the head of another victim, as the lad mysteriously survived the attack.

They called on Governor Yahaya Bello to take over the security architecture in the community as efforts by his officials in the local government have not been able to stop the carnage