Two protesters were reportedly killed on Wednesday after being hit by stray bullets fired by security operatives in Irunda-Ile community, Isanlu, in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Witnesses said the security personnel opened fire as youths staged a protest over rising insecurity, following a violent bandit attack on the community earlier in the day.

Two youths were confirmed dead, while two others were said to be on life support after sustaining critical injuries during the confrontation.

The Bobagunwa of Irunda Isanlu, Chief David Oni Sunday, said bandits had attacked the community at dawn, killing two vigilantes in a shootout.

He explained that tensions rose when youths confronted police officers deployed to the area, accusing them of delaying action in pursuing the attackers into the bush.

“In the melee that followed, two youths were hit by stray bullets, while two others were hospitalised after excessive exposure to tear gas fired by the police. In all, four people were killed today. The bandits killed two vigilantes, and the police mistakenly killed two others,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the Security Adviser to the Kogi State Government, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), said the bandits invaded the community in the early hours of Wednesday, killing two vigilante members.

He criticised the confrontation between the youths and security personnel, saying the operatives required community support rather than resistance.

“Security men were drafted to Yagba to chase the bandits away. Even those bandits occupying our mine sites have been neutralised,” he said.

“Kogi State Government will not allow criminals to operate. We are working tirelessly to ensure the state remains safe.”

Omodara added that recent operations, including aerial surveillance, had yielded significant breakthroughs against criminal elements.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, CSP William Aya, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages were not responded to at the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)