5000 Cattle Rustled As Bandits Invade Yagba West Again
By Ralph Agbana
No fewer than 5000 cattle have been missing between Thursday night and Friday morning in another major security breach in the troubled Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The rustlers allegedly invaded Akata, Igbaruku-Okeri, Odo-Ara and parts of Odo-Eri communities by suspected cattle rustlers who made away with the herds in an overnight raid raising fresh concerns over the rising cases of insecurity in the local council and the incapability of the council administration to address the surge of insecurity in the area due to poor funding despite the humongous allocation from the federation account.
In the Penultimate week, seven security personnel, including three policemen, two vigilantes and a soldier, were reportedly killed in Yagba West Council.
A community leader who spoke on the ground of anonymity noted that although the number could not be ascertained at press time, thousands of cows were missing approximately 5000 in number.
Some residents involved in the business of breeding cows tended by local fulanis but who did not want their names mentioned recounted how between 10 and 180 cows were lost by individuals during the raid. The bandits were alleged to have only left behind the calves.
Eye witnesses in the affected communities lamented that the rustling was carried out overnight till the early hours of Friday morning amidst sounds of gunshots.
Some residents in the affected communities who spoke on the ground of anonymity described the attacks leading to the rustling as scary.
Commenting on the latest development, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), William Aya, however, said the area is calm from reports received, pending further investigations, even as fears have engulfed the surrounding communities.
