Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo has directed security agencies to launch an immediate manhunt for those responsible for the deadly reprisal attack on Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi communities in Kupa Kingdom, Lokoja Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of several residents.
The governor also ordered security operatives to restore peace in the affected communities and ensure that everyone involved in the violence is brought to justice, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and maintaining law and order across the state.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.
Fanwo said Governor Ododo expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Kupa Kingdom, describing the killings as tragic, senseless and unacceptable.
According to the commissioner, preliminary reports indicated that the violence was triggered after an unarmed herder was allegedly shot dead by a member of the local vigilante group over suspicions of cattle rustling.
He said the killing was followed by a reprisal attack allegedly carried out by armed men, who targeted innocent residents in Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi communities, resulting in multiple deaths and escalating tension in the area.
Fanwo said Governor Ododo had directed security agencies to immediately arrest the vigilante member accused of killing the herder, as well as the gunmen behind the reprisal attack, including the leader of the Hybrid Vigilante Group alleged 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 stated.
He appealed to residents to remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing investigations and facilitate the arrest of those responsible.
Fanwo added that the state government was working closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to restore lasting peace in Kupa Kingdom.
He reiterated Governor Ododo’s commitment to upholding justice, promoting peaceful coexistence among communities and ensuring that criminals have no hiding place anywhere in Kogi State.