Lokoja (Precise Post) – No fewer than nineteen (19) people were killed with several buildings including worship centres torched in a midnight offensive launched by suspected herdsmen on Tawari community in Kogi LGA of Kogi state Thursday, state’s police spokesman, Williams Anya confirmed the incident on Friday

An eyewitness said the invasion was a reprisal attack.

The recent killing of four suspected kidnappers, allegedly of Fulani stock, along the Lokoja-Abuja highway by security agencies, following a tip off by vigilantes from Tawari community, was said to have angered the herdsmen, who in turn attacked the community, The Nation reports.

Another account has it sometimes last year, a herdsman was allegedly killed and his body mutilated by suspected ritualists for which his fellow herdsmen pointed accusing fingers at the Tawari community and threatened a reprisal.

A resident identified as Comfort Solomon told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) that the gunmen numbering about 100 invaded the community came on motorcycles and launched the attack which lasted untill Friday morning.

Solomon said some places of worship as well as the palace of the Akuma of Tawari were razed by the attackers.

“The gunmen were up to 100 in number. They came into the community with motorcycles around 11:15 p.m. when villagers were sleeping,” he was quoted as saying in tears.

“They entered selected houses, packed foodstuff and motorcycles and burnt selected houses, including homes of clerics.

“They killed more than 15 men. The attackers were communicating with each other in Hausa language,” Solomon stated, weeping profusely.”

Rita Nuhu, another source from the area, was also quoted as saying her father’s house was burnt down during the attack.

“My mother and her sister were ordered out of the house after which the house was set ablaze, while about 15 men were killed,” she said.

“We are calling on security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. We appeal to the federal and state governments to come to our aid.” she pleaded.

Idris Yusuf, chief of Tawari, said it was the first time the community was experiencing such an attack, and that “our community has been very peaceful”.

The police spokesman said a security team has visited the community for an assessment of the situation and for investigation.