Dozens injured, property destroyed as gunmen attack Kogi community

Gunmen have attacked Ewune-Egume village in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, injuring dozens and destroying property worth millions of naira.

An eyewitness who craved anonymity told our correspondent that a group of young men stormed the community in trucks, tippers on Saturday and started shooting sporadically, causing chaos which led to the entire villagers abandoning their property and running to the bush for safety.

It was gathered that on hearing gunshots, the beaded chief of the community, the Ochai Onu-Egume, Chief Olema Akpali, fainted and was hospitalised in one of the clinics in the area.

Our correspondent who visited the community reported that some household appliances, water tanks and houses were destroyed even as the arsonists drank all the beers and beverages in some restaurants and destroyed empty bottles.

The community leader, Mr Matthew Audu, said the gunmen invaded the community in five trucks with AK 47 rifles, went away with some domestic animals, 200 Jericans of palm oil, 13 motorcycles and set ablaze other motorcycles while other valuable properties were destroyed.

Audu said that people of the community had reported several threats by this group to the Divisional Police Office Egume and their incessant invasions on Ewune farms.

He added that the attackers were suspected to be a group of saw millers working for an Ejule man in Ofu LGA, Kogi State.