Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo; Billy Graham Abel Yola
The chairman of Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State, Hon. Rimansikwe Karma, yesterday, confirmed the killing of nine persons in an early-morning attack on Tutuwa community in the council.
Similarly, eight people were killed in another herdsmen’s attack in Nega village, Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The gunmen were reported to have stormed the community on motorbikes yesterday, killing residents and burning houses.
Karma told our correspondent on phone that the attackers surrounded the village at about 5am yesterday and launched the deadly attack when members of the community were going for morning prayers, killing nine, while three sustained injuries.
“Every Wednesday morning, the community used to conduct mid-week service and most of them were on their way to the church in the morning when the armed Fulani militiamen attacked them.
“Nine persons were killed and three others sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Takum General Hospital.
“The deputy commissioner of police, Aliyu Tafida, and heads of other security agencies are on ground in Ussa local government to assess the security situation. But, unfortunately, the attackers left before the arrival of the security agencies,” he said.
Mr. Ure Caleb, who hails from Kwesati district, where the attack happened, told journalists that two of his relations were still missing after the attack.
While lamenting the attack, Ure, a youth leader in the area, called on security agencies to go after the attackers who he said may not be far from the area of the attack.
The state police public relations officer, David Missal, who also confirmed the killing of nine persons in the attack, however, said the DCP had led a team of police officers to the area.
Missal said that no arrest has been made, adding that the team would remain there to prevent further attacks and also make efforts to improve the security situation in the area.
The attack is coming barely three days after the state governor, Darius Ishaku, disputed Buhari’s claim that Fulani herdsmen don’t bear arms, insisting that herdsmen in the state go about with AK-47 rifles.
Residents told Daily Sun that the men of the Nigerian Army repelled the attackers, inflicting heavy casualties on the assailants and preventing them from causing further damage on Nega.
A source inside Numan said soldiers killed some of the herdsmen and seized some of the motorcycles used by the group in terrorising communities in the area.