Six people were reportedly killed in the Akpanya community in Igalamela-Odolu local government area in Kogi State when hoodlums suspected to be from a neighbouring state invaded the community.
It was gathered that the incident happened in the afternoon of last Sunday in the community located at the boundary between Kogi and Enugu States.
The source hinted that the hoodlums, numbering more than 30, came in their usual number on buses and started shooting sporadically in the town, making residents to scamper for safety.
It was learnt that no sooner the hoodlums entered the community that the security agents, including the vigilantes, advanced and confronted them in a gun duel.
The melee that followed led to the death of six people, among whom were members of the invading hoodlums.
The locals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the criminals managed to carry away two dead bodies of their members while retreating in a hurry to their state.
In its reaction, the Kogi state government stated that hoodlums coming from other states to terrorize the Akpanya community had crossed the red line and would be confronted with heavy hands of the state.
The Security Adviser to the state Governor Yahaya Bello, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), who confirmed the incident, said the combined forces of security agents and the local vigilantes repelled the attack from the hoodlums from the neighbouring state.
He said Governor Bello has directed a total overhaul of the security of the area to ward off future attack of the outlawed group, who takes delight in terrorising the people of the area.
