Following reported raids on Olowa and Shintaku communities in Dekina and Bassa local government areas of Kogi State by gunmen recently, the state government has been called upon to beef up security in the affected areas.
Leaders of the communities, through their spokesman, Mr Matthias John, said gunmen on motorcycles have been raiding, abducting people and demanding ransom.
“Within the last five days, villages in Dekina and Bassa along the riverside on the border between Kogi and Nasarawa states have been under severe attacks by gunmen, riding on motorcycles and heavily armed, abducting people from farms and on the way to the markets.
“These invaders, who launch their attacks during the day and at night, have continued to kill, maim and loot these villages with impunity,” he lamented.
He alleged that two persons were killed in two communities during one of the raids.
He said the vigilantes confronted the attackers and arrested four in Shintaku, Bassa Local Government Area, while attempting to escape through the river and were handed over to the police.
He noted that the assailants were taking advantage of the porous borders and lack of access roads across the areas to perpetrate the act and retreat into the border communities.
He, therefore, called on the government to take urgent steps to address the deadly attacks in the areas.
“We also call on the elected representatives from the affected local government areas to liaise with relevant government agencies towards providing security, welfare and other essential needs to the people of the communities.”
Credit: Daily Trust
