A report by Leadership has shown that the hitherto peaceful Oganenigu community in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State was thrown into pandemonium last week when masked men armed with various dangerous weapons swooped on the traditional ruler of the community, His Highness Imaji Omojayi.
The assailants numbering about three and dressed in overall black, sneaked into the palace through the alternative gate and made straight for the chief’s living room where he usually receives quests at about 9pm.
According to Leadership, on citing the chief, the assailants fired many shots at him but seeing that the bullets were not having effect on him, two of the assailants descended on him with machetes while the third was pounding him with a round-headed object.
This inflicted very heavy injury on the aged traditional chief. Not even the plea by the chief’s wife could pacify the attackers. When they noticed that the chief was motionless, one of the attackers beckoned on others to leave the chief alone as he thought he was already dead.
The assailants quickly jumped on the motor cycles on which they rode to the palace. Before those attracted by the shout for help by the chief’s wife could arrive the palace, the hoodlums had escaped, leaving the second class chief in a pool of his own blood.
The chief was quickly rushed to the community’s clinic where first aid treatment was administered on him before he was transferred to Anyigba referral hospital for comprehensive treatment.
The chief’s wife later told sympathisers that the assailants may have rolled their motorcycles to the palace as they did not hear the sound of an engine before the attack.
Speaking exclusively to Leadership Weekend on the incident, the secretary of the community’s traditional council, Isaac Hayes Shuaibu said it was being investigated by the police and assured further details would be released when investigation is concluded.
According to sources who pleaded anonymity, the grouse of the attackers might not be unconnected with the complications arising from the brouhaha over the Fulani settlement in the community.
The community has suffered intermittent crises since it was first attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen in late 2015.
As at the time of this story, the traditional ruler is said to be recuperating fast. His Highness Imaji Omojayi was chosen as the 5th Egena of Oganenigu community by the Igala Traditional Council in 1991.
