Tension has gripped Abobo community in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State following a reported invasion by suspected Fulani attackers in the early hours of Monday.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants stormed the community in an attempt to kidnap the Zonal Chairman of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Abobo Okehi Chapter, Alfa Abdulsamad.
The attackers, said to be armed with dangerous weapons, invaded the area under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically to instill fear and force residents to flee. Sources revealed that their main target was Alfa Abdulsamad, a respected community leader and businessman, who narrowly escaped after sensing the unusual movement around his residence.
In the process, the hoodlums reportedly beat another Ebira man mercilessly, leaving him with severe injuries. The victim, whose name was not immediately disclosed, is said to be receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital.
Residents of Abobo have since expressed fear and anger over the renewed wave of insecurity, describing the incident as “one attack too many.” They called on the Kogi State Government, the Okehi Local Government authorities, and security agencies to rise to the occasion and prevent future occurrences.
A community youth who spoke to Naija Reality News lamented the absence of effective security patrols in the area, adding that “people can no longer sleep peacefully; the fear of these attackers has become a nightmare for our community.”
Meanwhile, security operatives have reportedly been deployed to the area to forestall further attacks and restore calm.
The attempted kidnap of Alfa Abdulsamad has sparked outrage among members of NAPPMED, who described the act as barbaric and a direct assault on peace-loving citizens contributing to the local economy.
As at the time of filing this report, no official statement has been released by the Kogi State Police Command, but investigations are said to be ongoing.
Reported by Naija Reality News (RFT News 24/7)
