A minor disagreement between a local vigilante group and Fulani residents of Kupa Kingdom in Lokoja Local Government Council Area of Kogi State has led to killing of 16 people in the kingdom.
The victims were killed in a reprisal attack launched on Thursday against the people of Guchidan, Balagan, Mikugi and Abugi communities in the kingdom.
Trouble started when members of a local vigilante group on a stop and search security duty allegedly shot and killed a member of NSA Vigilante Group who are mostly Fulani herdsmen.
The group was said to have stopped a Fulani man riding a motorcycle to properly identify himself before gaining access to one of the communities.
The Fulani man was said to have failed to comply and was attempting to force his way through when he was shot on suspicion of being a cattle rustler.
Other fulanis resident in the communities later got wind of the development and immediately mobilised themselves for a revenge attack on indigenous members of the communities.
During the reprisal attacks, the fulanis armed with guns and other dangerous weapons gained upper hand and were able to kill 16 residents of Guchidan, Balagan, Mikugi and Abugi communities in the Kupa kingdom.
A resident of one of the affected communities confirmed the development to Vital News.
The resident who does not want his name in print said : “What happened today is not from an outside group.
“The attackers are the same Fulani group living within our communities — a group that was equipped by government under the name of an NSA Vigilante Group said to be led and regulated by Fulani members.
“They were given arms to protect us and secure us.
Instead, those arms are now being used against the indigenous host communities.
“They have turned to displace us and make us insecure in our own homeland.
“As of now, Guchidan, Balagan, Mikugi and Abugi communities are bleeding.
“An injury to one is an injury to all.”
The resident said tension remains high in the affected communities, calling for quick deployment of securitymen to prevent further bloodshed.
“We call on government and security agencies to immediately investigate, disarm those misusing state resources, and restore safety and trust in our communities.
In a swift reaction, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has ordered immediate arrest of members of the local vigilante group and NSA Vigilante Group.
Ododo expressed sympathy to thefamilies who lost their loved ones in the reprisal attacks.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government described the incident as tragic, senseless and unacceptable.
“No grievance or misunderstanding should degenerate into the taking of innocent lives,” the statement read.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the entire Kupa Kingdom.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased and for comfort for those left behind.
According to Fanwo, preliminary reports indicated that the crisis began when an unarmed herder was allegedly shot and killed by a member of the local vigilante on suspicion of cattle rustling.
This was followed by a reprisal attack allegedly carried out by armed persons who targeted innocent residents of Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi, leading to multiple deaths and heightened tension in the area.
The Commissioner said Governor Ododo has directed security agencies to take full control of the situation, restore peace and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
He disclosed that the Governor ordered the immediate arrest of :
1. The local vigilante member alleged to have killed the herder
2. Those behind the reprisal attack
3. The leader of the Hybrid Vigilante Group suspected to have coordinated the assault
“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,” Fanwo quoted the Governor as saying.
The government urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals.
It also called on the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to aid investigations.
Fanwo added that the state government is working with security agencies, traditional rulers and community leaders to restore lasting peace in Kupa Kingdom and rebuild trust among affected communities.
He reiterated Governor Ododo’s commitment to protecting all residents of Kogi State and ensuring that criminals have no hiding place.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
