From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Twenty three persons have been feared dead as suspected militia, believed to be herdsmen invaded Tawari Community in Kogi LGA, of Kogi State.
The Administrator of the local government, Hon. Musa Tanko Mohammed, however confirmed that 19 persons died in the midnight invasion.
According to eye witness report, the attack is believed to be a reprisal attack by the militia who are suspected to be herdsmen.
The killing of four suspected herdsmen, alleged to be kidnappers along Lokoja Abuja federal highway recently by security agencies, following a tip off by vigilantes from Tawari community, was alleged to be what angered the militia to attack the community.
According to the report, the herdsmen sometimes last year had one of them killed and his body mutilated by suspected killers, but this the herdsmen pointed accusing fingers at the Tawari community community, threatened a reprisal.
But following persistent persuasion by the community head, Alh. Yahaya Tawari, against a reprisal, the herdsmen lived in the community with their host community in peace until few days ago when they started moving out enmass.
While efforts was made to pacify them as to their reason for the mass movement, the herdsmen said their movement was a way of life, assuring that it had no ulterior motives.
But the killing of the herdsmen suspected to be kidnappers terrorising motorists along the Lokoja Abuja federal highway four days ago was said to have angered the herdsmen, who alleged that the misfortune of their colleagues killed as suspected kidnappers was made possible by information from the Tawari community, reason for the reprisal in the wee hours of yesterday.
Eye witness account put the dead at twenty three, but the administrator however confirmed nineteen, described the incident as very unfortunate, assured that efforts is on to return life to normalcy t.
As at the time of report military personnel have been deployed to the community, while the Kogi state commissioner of Police was on ground to monitor the situation and provide support.
The militia burnt down the palace of the third class chief, Alhaji Yusuf Idris alongside several other houses in the Area.
