Four bodies suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have been discovered in River Ofu in Oforachi community in Idah local government council of Kogi State.

The bodies were allegedly dumped in the river by some angry youths following the killing of one Godwin Egbunu aged 65 years at his farm last Friday.

An eyewitness simply identified as Audu told our correspondent that the incident happened last week Friday. He added that the farmer was attacked by some Fulanis herdsmen who invaded his farmland, destroyed all the crops.

According to him, the farmer went to police station where two policemen were asked to follow the farmer to the said farm and on getting there the suspected herdsmen attack the farmer right in presence of the policemen and killed him.

According to him, angered by the killing of the farmer, youth killed four Fulanis in retaliation, while the policemen said they could not stop the killing of the farmer because they were not armed.

A community resident also confirmed that members of the community no longer sleep but are keeping vigil to ensure Fulanis do not come and killed them at night in retaliation for their brothers that were killed by the youth.

Communities such as Ogbogbo, Odolu, Akpanya, that are close to Oforachi are now living in fear as a result of possible reprisal attack by the Fulanis.

Kogi State has witnessed different attacks in respective communities in the last five years, with Tarawi and Oforachi been the latest.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of Kogi State Police Command, Mr Williams Anya in a press statement confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday.

According to him, on the 18 of this month, at about 0700hrs, information was received from Oforachi that unknown persons suspected to be herdsmen killed one Godwin Egbunu aged 65 of same addressed at his farm and as a result, angry youths from the village began attacking any Fulanis on sight.

He said SUPOL stationed at Ajaka immediately mobilised his personnel to the scene and rescued two Fulani men from the mob but seriously injured.

DSP Ayah said the injured Fulani men were rushed to Isah hospital for treatment.

“Area Command Idah equally mobilized personnel from divisions under his command PMF SARS Operatives reinforced team on ground

” Normalcy has been restored, they took the photographs of the corpses and were taken to general hospital mortuary for autopsy as investigation continues.”

He also said One Mohammed Arade a Fulani man of Egabada village reported at the Ajaka police station that two of their men namely Abubakar Nahare aged 65 years and Hassan Natunku aged 60 years were not seen since the incident happened.

He said immediately a search party led by the Acting Area Commander Idah swung into action as the corpse of the two missing Fulani men were recovered from inside Ofu river at Oforachi with their hands tied into nine inches block.

He said the photographs of the deceased was taken and their corpses were taken to general hospital mortuary for autopsy as investigation continued.