By Richard Elesho
The tranquility of Odo Ere, the heart of Yagbawest Local Government Area (LGA) in Kogi State, has been shattered by an unimaginable tragedy.
A few days before his final exams, Kola Sunday, a promising Senior Secondary School 3 student at United Comprehensive College, Gbaraga, was brutally murdered by ruthless gunmen—just as he and his friends sought wood on a farm to craft a hoe.
The young men had innocently ventured out, unaware that lurking in the shadows were heartless criminals, seemingly driven by a thirst for blood.
As the boys tried to flee upon realizing the danger, the gunmen—suspected to be Fulani herders—responded with deadly gunfire.
Kola, a native of Isanlu Esa, was struck in the head by a bullet, collapsing to the ground without a chance of survival.
His friends, miraculously escaping, made it back to the village, their bodies marked by gunshot wounds and their faces etched with horror.
The entire community was thrust into despair, their hearts broken by the loss of such a vibrant young life. A swift rescue mission was launched, with the police, hunters, and vigilantes combing the forest in search of Kola’s body.
Amidst tears, wails, and the gnashing of teeth, the lifeless body of the teenager was returned to the village, a chilling reminder of the brutal violence that has taken root in the area.
Kola, who was also learning a trade in his spare time, was full of potential. His future was ripped away in the blink of an eye. The two surviving boys, with their own injuries, managed to alert the community of the atrocity, igniting an outpouring of grief.
One community member shared the anguish: “Herders shot three of the young boys on the farm on Saturday.
Tragically, Kola Sunday was hit in the head and fell. He died before help could reach him. The two others returned home, wounded, and their hearts were heavy with sorrow as they revealed the horror they had witnessed.”
Babatunde Muyiwa Stephen, spokesperson for the Better Yagba West Youths Forum, expressed the deep sorrow felt by all: “The death of Kola Sunday is not just a loss to his family and friends, it’s a painful wound to the heart of Yagba society. We condemn this senseless act of violence in the strongest terms. The loss of such a bright young soul at the peak of his academic journey is both heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable. Our hearts go out to Kola’s family, classmates, and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
In response, the group has called on the Yagba West Local Government Authority, Ere community leadership, security agencies, and all concerned parties to join forces and find lasting solutions to the rising insecurity that now threatens the peaceful existence of the region.
The Kogi State Police Command has promised to investigate the incident.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, assured that officers would be dispatched to the area to get to the bottom of this horrifying crime.
This murder is the latest in a series of attacks that have plagued Kogi West, where innocent victims have been subjected to kidnappings, rapes, and killings, as lawlessness and violence continue to escalate.
