Killings, displacement rock Kogi community

2026-03-29 - 04:24

...as lawyer petitions senator, governor for urgent Intervention By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja A legal practitioner and community leader, Bakwo Ademu, has raised alarm over escalating violence and mass displacement in Ochipu, an Igala community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State, calling for urgent intervention from authorities to halt what he described as “gruesome and inhuman” killings. In separate petitions dated March 24, 2026, addressed to Jibrin Isah Echocho and Ahmed Usman Ododo, Ademu detailed a series of attacks allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani assailants, as well as a controversial shooting involving military personnel, which he said has forced residents to flee their homes. The petitions, obtained by our correspondent, painted a grim picture of a once-thriving rural community now reduced to a ghost town, with women, children, the elderly, and the sick taking refuge in neighbouring villages and bushes to escape the violence. “My mind bleeds and is livid with agony while sending this letter of appeal due to the series of deaths recorded in my community within these few weeks,” Ademu wrote. He disclosed that tensions escalated following an attack on March 12, 2026, along the Dekina-Agodo-Ochipu road, where three residents Okoliko Mudi, Abalaka Sule, and Ikoh Makolo were reportedly ambushed while returning from work. According to him, Okoliko Mudi was killed on the spot, while the other two victims sustained severe injuries. Survivors of the attack reportedly identified the assailants as Fulani men. Ademu further alleged that the killing and dismemberment of Mudi’s body triggered widespread fear and anxiety in the community, noting that no arrests or prosecutions have been made in connection with the incident. He also cited earlier cases of violence in the area, including the killing of one Omiyaji Achogba in his residence and Ilemona Amodu on his farm, both allegedly by herders. The situation, however, took a more alarming turn on March 20, when military personnel reportedly entered Ochipu community at night under unclear circumstances. “It was in the course of trying to confirm who these persons really were that a soldier shot and killed a young man named Baba Zekeri,” Ademu stated, adding that a soldier was also reportedly injured during the incident. The following day, the Chairman of Bassa Local Government visited the community alongside security agents and appealed for calm. But shortly after his departure, Ademu alleged that soldiers returned in two Hilux vehicles and began shooting sporadically. The gunfire, he said, struck a vehicle conveying the remains of the slain Baba Zekeri for burial, forcing mourners to abandon the corpse, which was later buried at night in a neighbouring community. “This mayhem has led to the total desertion of Ochipu community,” Ademu said, noting that displaced residents have fled to nearby towns including Okete, Dekina, Aloko, and Anyangba. Describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis, he urged the senator and governor to take immediate steps to restore peace, ensure justice, and facilitate the safe return of displaced residents. He specifically called on the authorities to initiate a high-level investigation into the killings, overhaul security architecture in Bassa LGA, and improve coordination between local authorities and military operations. Ademu also appealed for engagement with traditional leaders and Fulani community heads to curb further violence and prevent reprisal attacks. “The Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of our people, including the right to life, dignity, and personal liberty. Any act or omission that compromises these rights requires urgent attention,” he stressed. He further urged the government to ensure that members of the Ochipu community can return to their homes without fear of harassment or violence. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the offices of the senator or the Kogi State Government regarding the allegations.