Gunmen Invade Kogi Community, Kill 19 People , Set Houses Ablaze

*Group laments persistent killings, abductions in Kaduna communities

John Shiklam in Kaduna and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Suspected gunmen have invaded Agojeju Odo in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State and killed 19 people while many houses were set  ablaze.This comes just as the Adara Development Association (ADA) has cried out over persistent attacks, killings and abductions in communities in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna State.

In Kogi, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, William Aya, confirmed the incident, saying the yet-to-be identified gunmen attacked Agojeju Odo community in Omala LGA on Thursday,
He noted that the Divisional Police Office of the local government informed the command that 19 people were killed while some sustained injuries in the attack.
He stated that the Kogi State Commissioner, CP Bethrand Onuoha, has deployed more policemen to the communities, assuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act will be apprehended.

The locals said the gunmen attacked the sleepy town of Agojeju Odo in Omala Local Government Area where men were killed and farm produce destroyed.
The community appealed to Kogi State Governor,  Usman Ododo, and security agencies to come to their aid by deploying more security personnel to the area, as the police in the local government council have been overwhelmed and overpowered by the attackers.

Meanwhile, the President of ADA, Sebastian BardeAdara, in a statement yesterday,  lamented that in the past three months over 41 people were killed while 222 others were kidnapped in over 35 attacks by bandits on 29 Adara communities in Kajuru and Kachia LGAs.
Barde said, so far, a total of N88 million had been spent on payment of ransom to bandits, adding that many of the abducted victims are still in captivity.
He said, “It has become necessary for the ADA to cry out once more over the worsening security and humanitarian situation within the Adara nation, cutting across both Kaduna and Niger states.

“You would recall that during the entire tenure of the immediate past government of Kaduna State, the Adara community was always in the news because of the continued unabated devastation of the people and the land.
“These destructions ranged from recurrent massacres in Adara villages, farms, markets, the sacking and ransacking of rural communities, the abduction and murder of the people, heightened by the abduction and gruesome murder of our First-Class paramount ruler, HRH Agom Adara, Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima of blessed memory and culminated to the scraping of the First Class Adara Chiefdom against our desire as well as the arrest and detention of Adara elders, etc.”

According to the group, “The most telling of these sources of distress as at date include the displacement and desertion of over 112 villages in both Kachia and Kajuru LGAs of Kaduna State, the attendant IDPs created, the impoverishment of the community due to frequent attacks, killings, burning of properties, destructions, looting and payment of ransom, and many others.”

Barde said ADA had hoped that the situation would improve with the coming of the new administration, stating however that, “it is unfortunate  as it seems our hopes may be dashed earlier than can be imagined as the turn of events in 2024 is giving us ominous signs.”

The group said, “It is therefore with a very heavy heart that we hereby state that in the first quarter of 2024, over 35 security breaches have been reported across Adara land in Kaduna and Niger states.

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“In these incidents, conservatively over 29 villages have been attacked, 41 persons have been killed, 24 persons have been injured and 222 persons were kidnapped of which many of them are yet to regain their freedom.

“Also, over 35 houses were destroyed during the period. Furthermore, the ransom so far confirmed to have been paid within this quarter alone amounts to N88 million.

“On abductions, 210 people were kidnapped in communities in Kachia, and Kajuru LGAs.

“Some of the most recent attacks include the Ungwan Machu, Chibiya, Maro Ward on March 31, where a woman was killed, and some parts of her body were removed and the bandits refused to allow the body to be taken for burial.

“Also, on 31st March, Ungwan Maigari, Ankwa Ward, Kachia was attacked and 6 persons kidnapped.

“On April 3, Gadnaji in Agunu Ward was also invaded and six persons were abducted.

“We are particularly concerned about the continuing trend of massacres, mass abductions and outrageous ransoms being extorted from our hapless people.

“Specific examples include the 11 killed in Ungwan Sako, 13 killed at Gindin Dutse, 29 abducted at Ungwan Sako, 33 abducted at Kwakware, 61 abducted at Buda, 87 abducted at Tantatu, N11 million extorted from Kwakware and N42 million from Ungwan Sako.

“It is because of this frightening sense of foreboding that the ADA wishes to raise alarm for the government’s attention.

“Adara community is actually suffering and enduring a lot from the intentional and unintentional actions and inactions of government that has the responsibility of protection of lives  and property.

“The association called on the government  to live up to the expectations of the people.”

Barde said the association is not in doubt of the capacity of the government to address the security challenges headlong.

The statement also called on sons and daughters of Adara nation to distance themselves from the activities of evil elements and ensure vigilance, unity and synergy in the face of  life threatening situations.