Armed bandits killed an undertaker, Segun Adekoya, during an attack on an ambulance along Egbe-Ogbe-Ponyan road in Yagba East local government of Kogi state at the weekend.
The ambulance was returning back to Egbe in Yagba West local government of the state after officiating at a funeral ceremony in Ponyan community when it was attacked around 5pm on Saturday.
Adekoya and his group reportedly took a corpse from a hospital at Egbe in Yagba West local government for a burial at Ponyan.
Narrating the incident, a resident of Egbe, Ademola, said “the undertaker group headed by Segun Adekoya is loved greatly in the community, because of its quality service delivery at funeral or burial ceremony.
“He bought a well equipped ambulance on 24th December 2024, with the assistance of people to ease smooth operation of his chosen profession in the community.
“On Saturday morning, with his workers, he took a corpse for burial from Egbe hospital to Ponyan, prosecuting it successfully.
“Shortly after fixing a punctured tire on his way back , he ran into an ambush of the hoodlums, numbering about 30.
“While others escaped from the scene , he could not, as an accident that affected one of his legs years ago rendered it useless, making him to always shuffle in walking.
“His life less body was picked up on Sunday morning beside the road, shortly after farmers spotted it and raised alarm,” said Ademola Ganiyu, a resident of Egbe.”
Though the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Williams Ovye Aya, could not be reached for reaction as he did not respond to text messages and calls, stakeholders of the community have condemned the killing of the young man.
A community leader, Chief Leke Akogun, lamented the incessant attacks in the community, which he claimed have left residents in fear prompting many to stay indoor without observing their daily activities.
“Our (Ogbe) ward is a peaceful farming community where economic activities thrive in yagba west. It has now become a hotspot for kidnappers. The recent attacks are stark reminder of the deteriorating security situation in our area,” he said.
Equally, the Minority Leader in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibikunle Idowu who incidentally hails from the community, claimed that the area is prone to attacks because it shares boundary with three states – Kwara, Ekiti and Ondo states.
Moving a motion of Urgent Public Importance on the floor of the House on Tuesday, the lawmaker lamented that Ogbe Community in Yagba West local government area of the state is confronted with critical insecurity issue that requires immediate attention.
“The community, which has a first-class paramount ruler and a third-class traditional ruler, is plagued by insecurity, daily killings, and abductions, particularly targeting young men.
“As a predominantly farming community, the ongoing violence has made it impossible for residents to go to their farms, exacerbating the situation.
“The recent killing of a vibrant community youth and the abduction of two others, who remain missing, have created a sense of urgency and fear among the residents,” the lawmaker lamented.
He cited the community’s strategic location as a border town to Ekiti State, saying it is essential to deploy active security personnel and vigilantes to monitor the activities of marauders who have turned the community into a battle ground.
“The Kogi State Government and relevant authorities must take immediate action to address the insecurity concerns and restore peace to the Ogbe community,” Idowu said.
The lawmaker prayed the House for deployment of additional security personnel to the area to deter attacks and abductions.
He further suggested the establishment of a community vigilante group to work closely with security agencies and provide intelligence on potential threats.