Members of the Nigeria Police Force have been battling to calm rising tension over the death of two teenagers in Okekwu village, near Ogbogbo in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The teenage girls identified as Ajuma Simon, 17, and Omojo Shuaibu, 18, were said to have been killed in an ambush set by suspected armed bandits.

The Guardian learnt that the victims were returning from a local market called Ega market at about 7 pm on Wednesday, trekking along the bush path leading to their village. They were attacked approximately 2 kilometres from their village, Okekwu.

“Those who heard the victims shouting and calling for help during the attack responded too late. They only came to the scene to meet the victims already dismembered,” a source said.

“As at the time we got to the scene, one of the victims was still breathing. She told us that the armed men came to rape them, and that they started running to escape; but the assailants, armed with machetes, chased them for about 300 meters before they caught up with them and butchered the girls beyond recognition,” said one Yahaya Edibo.

Edibo said, “I know the girls, one of the victims, Omojo Shuaibu, was my ex-student at the UEC Secondary School, Ogbogbo, a very brilliant and dedicated assistant head girl. These wicked, evil people just cut off their lives at their prime.”

According to the community source, the local security and the youth mobilised to the scene of the attack and evacuated the bodies on Thursday morning. Their remains have been deposited at a morgue in Idah, Idah Local Government of Kogi State.

Meanwhile, the entire community is in grief, losing two teenagers in such a brutal manner.

The Guardian learnt that a handful of policemen have been deployed to the village to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The Igalamela chapter of Ukomu Igala socio-cultural organisation has expressed deep concern over cases of armed criminals in the community. They urged the state government to come to their aid in providing adequate security. (The Guardian)