Key points

• Armed assailants killed several residents across three Kogi communities in a coordinated reprisal attack
• Violence started after a vigilante allegedly shot dead an unarmed herder on cattle rustling suspicion
• Governor Ododo has ordered the arrest of the vigilante member and the Hybrid Vigilante Group leader

Several residents have been killed in a wave of reprisal violence across Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi communities in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, after a member of a local vigilante group allegedly shot dead an unarmed herder on suspicion of cattle rustling, triggering an armed response that claimed multiple lives.

The Kogi State Government condemned the killings on Wednesday through a statement issued by Commissioner for Information and Communications Kingsley Femi Fanwo, who conveyed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Kupa Kingdom.

Violence erupted after vigilante killed unarmed herder

Preliminary findings by the state government indicated that the crisis began when a vigilante member shot and killed an unarmed herder, reportedly acting on suspicion of cattle rustling.

Armed assailants subsequently invaded the three communities in what authorities described as a coordinated reprisal attack, killing several innocent residents and heightening tensions across the area.

The government described the killings as tragic, senseless and unacceptable, and assured residents that security agencies had received direct orders to restore peace and bring all those responsible to justice.

Fanwo stressed that the state was working closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to rebuild confidence in the affected areas and prevent further escalation.

Ododo orders arrest of vigilante member and group leader

Governor Ododo moved swiftly to direct security agencies to take full control of the affected communities and restore law and order.

He ordered the immediate arrest of the vigilante member accused of killing the herder, and also called for the apprehension of all individuals linked to the reprisal attack, including the leader of the Hybrid Vigilante Group, whom authorities suspect coordinated the assault.

“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,” the government’s statement read.

The government appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid any retaliatory actions that could deepen the crisis. It also urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support the ongoing investigation and the arrest of remaining suspects.