By: Odeh Favour Adiya
No fewer than five people have been killed following a violent reprisal attack on three communities within Kupa Kingdom, located in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The affected communities Abugi, Kuchinda, and Mikugi were invaded on Thursday by unidentified gunmen who launched targeted attacks on local residents.
The bloodshed was triggered by an earlier incident involving the killing of an unarmed herder, who was allegedly murdered by a member of a local vigilante group over suspicions of cattle rustling.
In the wake of the herder’s death, armed men launched a retaliatory attack across the three communities, leaving five people dead and creating intense panic and tension throughout the area.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Kogi State Government confirmed the killings and condemned both the initial murder of the herder and the subsequent retaliation.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the state government described the entire sequence of events as tragic, senseless, and unacceptable.
Fanwo revealed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to take immediate control of the affected communities to restore normalcy and prevent further violence.
Furthermore, the governor ordered the arrest of the vigilante member allegedly involved in the herder’s death, as well as those responsible for organizing the reprisal attack, including the leader of the Hybrid Vigilante Group suspected of coordinating the violence.
“The Kogi State Government condemns in the strongest terms both the killing of the unarmed herder and the subsequent reprisal attack. These are criminal acts that have no place in our society.
Anyone found to have participated in either incident, regardless of status or ethnic affiliation, will face the full weight of the law,” the statement read.
The commissioner appealed to community members to remain calm and avoid engaging in any further acts of retaliation.
“We appeal to all residents to remain calm and resist the temptation of reprisals. We also urge members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that will aid ongoing investigations and the arrest of all those responsible,” Fanwo added.
He noted that the state government is collaborating closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and key stakeholders to restore peace and rebuild trust among residents.
Fanwo reaffirmed the administration’s determination to guarantee the safety of all citizens and ensure that everyone involved in the violence is brought to book.
