Tension has gripped Ochipu, an Igala-dominated community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State, following a deadly attack by armed men suspected to be Fulani herders, leaving at least three persons dead.
The brutal incident has sparked fresh fears among residents over the worsening insecurity and recurring violence across communities in the state.
Eyewitnesses told Chronicles Reporters that the attackers stormed the community and unleashed terror on villagers, leading to multiple casualties and panic among residents who fled for safety.
āFulani herders attacked Ochipu, an Igala-dominated community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State,ā a resident disclosed amid growing outrage over the killings.
A disturbing video obtained by Chronicles Reporters showed the lifeless bodies of three victims lying in pools of blood with deep machete cuts, while family members and sympathizers wailed uncontrollably beside the corpses.
As of the time of filing this report, details regarding the immediate cause of the attack, the number of injured persons, and the extent of destruction in the community were still unclear.
The latest killings add to the growing list of violent attacks, kidnappings, and banditry troubling several parts of Kogi State in recent months.
In April, gunmen invaded the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Training Centre located in Zariagi along the Kabba Junction axis of Lokoja and abducted the wife of the orphanage proprietor alongside 23 pupils during a late-night raid on the facility.
The attack reportedly occurred on April 26, 2026, when heavily armed assailants stormed the premises and whisked the victims away into the bush.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, later confirmed that 15 of the abducted pupils were rescued through the intervention of security agencies.
Authorities also announced last week that troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army successfully rescued the remaining victims kidnapped from the facility.
The state government further revealed that the school, also known as Dahallukitab Group of School, was allegedly operating illegally in a remote bush area without proper registration or the knowledge of relevant authorities and security agencies.
Residents of Bassa and surrounding communities are now calling on both the Kogi State Government and security agencies to immediately intensify security operations in the area to prevent further bloodshed and retaliatory violence.