‘Stand up to your responsibility’, Omala people tell Bello over frequent Fulani killings

The people of Omala Local Government area in Kogi East Senatorial district have told the State governor, Yahaya Bello and security agents to be alive to their responsibilities.

The call is at the backdrop of frequent Fulani herders’ attacks on communities in the Local government.

The residents have asked the security agents to unravel those behind the incessant killings in the area, particularly the 50-year-old woman, Mrs Mary Jekeli Edibo (Mama Dorcas) by unknown persons.

The deceased who hailed from Agbenema-Ife, a suburb of Abejukolo, headquarters of Omala local government, was murdered while returning home from a neighboring Agabifo village.

She was a petty trader, who was said to have returned from a local market earlier in the day, but went to see her customers in the neighbouring village and was returning when she met her death.

The killing of the woman was barely four days after a middle-aged man was similarly murdered in a nearby community. 
The victim, Malam Amodu Oma Ucha of Ajodoma village, was macheted on his way to the farm.

Residents noted that in recent times, some villages in Omala have become the epicenter for senseless killings by bandits. 
They particularly asked the governor to stand up to his responsibility by protecting lives and property of citizens across the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Aya, said on April 10, confirmed the incident, saying  the deceased brother, Mr. Abdul of Agbenema community reported the matter a day after the incident at Abejukolo divisional police headquarters of Omala LGA.

He said when the police team went to the scene of the incident, they discovered that she sustained deep cuts on her head and part of the face. “Our men took the photograph of the scene and were to retrieve the body for a post-mortem examination but the family declined,” he explained.

He, however, said the police have commenced investigation into the matter and have mounted intensive surveillance around the communities.
Residents have fled as at the time of filing this report, while the local vigilantes were reportedly patrolling the community.