Graphic photos: Trouble in Kogi state as policemen shot dead two protesting youths

According to reports, two of the
youths, were shot dead by the
officers, who immediately fled to
their station.


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PUNCH Metro gathered that the
youths were protesting the arrest
and detention of some residents,
including a retired police officer
identified as Peter Adama. Our
correspondent gathered that Adama and others were arrested around 11pm on Tuesday by some officers attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

A resident, Jeremiah Idege, said the
operatives swooped on the
community after some Fulani
herdsmen reported that their cows
had been killed by some residents.

Idege claimed that the allegation
was false, saying that the herdsmen
had actually invaded and destroyed
the community’s farmland. He said.

“We have issues with the
Fulani herdsmen and that has been
on for as long as 15 years. They
have been destroying our farmland
with reckless abandon. As I speak
with you, our community is wrecked.

“The little we have left was ravaged
again by their cows recently and we
reported the matter at the Ugwolawo Police Division.
We were given four policemen to follow us to assess the level of damage done to our crops.

“Later, the police said we should
come to a roundtable meeting with
the herdsmen so they could resolve
the case; but we refused. We just
asked them to leave in peace. If we
collect any money from them, they will say they have bought the lands
and they will completely take over
what we have left.”

It was learnt that a few days after the mediation failed, the herdsmen
reported that some cows had been
killed by the residents. The corpses were said to have been abandoned on the road until the Ata of Igala, Mr. Michael Idakwo, reportedly arrived at the scene and ordered that the victims’ families should take them away for burial.

The Police Public Relations Officer,
Kogi State Command, William Aya,
confirmed the incident, adding that
the state Commissioner of Police had gone to visit the scene. He said,

“I don’t have all the details
of what transpired now. But the state Commissioner of Police has gone to see what actually transpired and assuage the residents. I will get back when I finally get the details.”

He had, however, yet to call back as
of press time.