GUNMEN INVADE KOGI COMMUNITY, KILL 19, BURN HOUSES
The Tawari community in the Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State, was on Thursday invaded by gunmen killing about nineteen people and also set ablaze buildings, including the palace of the king of the community.
Penpushing reports that, a resident of the community, Comfort Solomon, who survived the attack, said the gunmen, numbering about 100 invaded the community which is a few kilometres off Gegu town along the Lokoja-Abuja highway.
The weeping resident said the gunmen stormed the community on motorcycles and descended on the village, killing and burning buildings until the early hours of Friday, adding that many places of worship, including the palace of the Akuma of Tawari were burnt down by the invaders.
‘The gunmen were up to 100 in number. They came into the community with motorcycles around 11:15 p.m. when villagers were sleeping. They entered selected houses, packed foodstuff and motorcycles and burnt selected houses, including homes of clerics. They killed more than 15 men. The attackers were communicating with each other in Hausa language,” Solomon said.
Penpushing further reports that, another indigene, Rita Nuhu, in his narration, said her father’s house was completely burnt down during the attack, adding that, “my people have been calling me from home that my father’s house was burnt down by the attackers.
“My mother and her sister were ordered out of the house after which the house was set ablaze, while about 15 men were killed. “We are calling on security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. We appeal to the federal and state governments to come to our aid,” she lamented
Penpushing also reports that, the traditional ruler of the community, Idris Yusuf, confirmed the ugly incident, saying it was the first time the community was experiencing such attack, stressing, “this is the first time we are witnessing such deadly attack in our community. Our community has been very peaceful.
The Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer , Williams Anya, also confirmed the development stating that a police assessment team had visited the community and that many buildings, including places of worship had been burnt.
