,,,,, Community cries for justice.
By correspondent in Lokoja.
A wave of grief and fear has swept through Odo-Ere, headquarters of Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, following the gruesome murder of a final-year secondary school student, Kola Sunday, by suspected gunmen, just days before his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Our correspondent gathered that Kola, a Senior Secondary School 3 student of United Comprehensive College, Gbaraga, met his untimely death on Saturday, May 3rd, while on a farm trip with his two younger siblings to fetch wood for crafting a hoe.
The peaceful errand turned deadly when the trio encountered armed men believed to be herders, who attempted to abduct them.
In a desperate bid to escape, the terrified boys ran, but the attackers opened fire. Tragically, Kola was struck in the head and died instantly, while his siblings managed to flee and alert the community.
The killing occurred just two days before Kola was to sit for his first WASSCE paper on Monday, May 5th,a moment that should have marked the beginning of his future.
Though the motive behind the attack remains uncertain, the community suspects a link to rising tensions with herders in the area.
The brutal killing has sparked widespread outrage, with residents demanding urgent action.
Speaking on behalf of the Better Yagba West Youths Forum, the spokesperson, Babatunde Muyiwa Stephen,condemned the killing in strong terms:
“The death of young Kola Sunday is not only a blow to his family and friends but a dark stain on the conscience of Yagba society.
” The loss of such a promising soul, at the peak of his life and academic journey,is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Our hearts go out to his family and classmates,”bemosned.
The group urged the Yagba West Local Government Authority, Ere community leaders, security agencies, and all stakeholders to join forces in restoring peace and preventing future tragedies.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, confirmed the incident and promised that the command would engage its operatives in the area to ascertain the full details.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
