Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in reprisal killings in Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi communities in Kupa Kingdom, Lokoja Local Government Area.

Mr Ododo assured the grieving families that the perpetrators of the heinous acts would be apprehended and brought to justice.

The state commissioner of information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement on Wednesday, described the killings as tragic, senseless and unacceptable.

He stated that no grievance or misunderstanding should degenerate into the taking of innocent lives.

The commissioner extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the entire Kupa Kingdom, praying for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and comfort for those left behind.

Mr Fanwo explained that preliminary reports indicated that the incident began after an unarmed herder was allegedly shot and killed by a vigilante on suspicion of cattle rustling.

He added the killing of the herder was later followed by a reprisal allegedly carried out by armed persons, who targeted innocent people in Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi communities, resulting in multiple deaths and heightened tension in the area.

The commissioner said that Mr Ododo ordered security agencies to immediately arrest the vigilante alleged to have killed the herder, as well as those responsible for the reprisal.

He said eeveryone found culpable in the act would be brought to justice including the leader of the Hybrid Vigilante Group suspected to have coordinated the assault.

“The Kogi State Government condemns in the strongest terms both the killing of the unarmed herder and the subsequent reprisal attack. These are criminal acts that have no place in our society.

“Anyone found to have participated in either incident, regardless of status or ethnic affiliation, will face the full weight of the law,” he said.