Spokesperson for the Better Yagba West Youths Forum in Kogi State, Babatunde Stephen, has condemned as a “senseless act of violence” the killing of a 15-year-old Kola Sunday by suspected herders.
Sunday, a Senior Secondary School Three student of United Comprehensive College, Odo-Ere, Yagba West local government area in Kogi state, has been shot dead by suspected herders.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at the weekend when the victim and his two other siblings were tending to crops on the family farm in the community.
It was gathered that the suspected herders fired shots into the farm, which hit 15-year-old Sunday on the head, killing him.
The remaining two returned home injured.
“Suspected herders shot three of the young boys on the farm on Saturday. Unfortunately, the bullet hit the head of one of them, Kola Sunday. He fell and died in the process before help could reach him.
“The two survivors came home with gunshot wounds to alert the community of the encounter, which ignited emotion in the whole community,” a member of the Odo-Ere family, said, on condition of anonymity.
Reacting to the incident, the youths forum spokesperson said, “We vehemently condemn this senseless act of violence. The loss of such a promising young soul at the prime age of his life and academic career is both heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable. Our hearts go out to Kola’s family, his classmates, and all those affected by this tragedy.”
The group, in a statement, called on the Yagba West Local Government Authority, the leadership of the Ere community, security agencies, and all critical stakeholders to synergise efforts in finding lasting solutions to the growing insecurity threatening the peace and stability of Yagba West.
The Kogi state police command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, when contacted, promised to reach out to the operatives of the command in the area to get the true picture of the incident.
However, he was yet to get back to our correspondent at the time of filing this report.
PUNCH Metro recalls that the Yagba community had recorded incidences of kidnapping and banditry, with residents forced to pay huge ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones.
