No fewer than 26 people have been reportedly
killed as gunmen suspected to be herdsmen allegedly invaded communities in
Adamawa and Kaduna states, also injuring scores, while many were declared
missing. While 15 persons were confirmed killed during the attack on Kodomun
village and other adjourning villages in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa
State, 11 were slaughtered in three villages around Godogo town, in Jema’a
Local Government Area of Kaduna State, 250km South of Kaduna town.
HerdsmenHerdsmen At press time, yesterday, Vanguard gathered from locals at
Kodomun village and other adjourning villages that the figure might be much
higher as scores of others were still missing in the hinterland. It was learned
that fighting is still raging in remote parts of the communities as the
suspected herdsmen operate from their hideouts at will and attack defenceless
farmers. Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Mr. Martins Babale; the Brigade
Commander of the 23rd Armored Brigade, Yola, Brigadier General Benson
Akiroluyo, and Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ghazzali,
yesterday, visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The
trio had earlier visited the paramount ruler of Batta, Hamman Batta, Chief
Alhamdu Teneke, to commiserate with him over the incidents. Speaking to newsmen
at the palace of the Hamman Batta, the member representing Demsa Constituency
in Adamawa State House of Assembly, Mr. Lumsan Dilli, disclosed that the causalty
figures given by the villagers were higher than that. According to him, scores
of other people have been declared missing and most of them are presumed dead.
The lawmaker added that the migrating herdsmen continued to kill, maim and burn
villages as they moved towards their destinations, disclosing that dead bodies
unaccounted for were more than the ones recovered so far. Dilli called for
serious security intervention to prevent the situation from degenerating to
full blown war as the affected villagers are mobilizing for reprisal attack.
Also speaking to newsmen, chairman of Demsa Local Government Council, Mrs. Wale
Fwa, disclosed that a newly elected councillor for the area, Mr. Hani Habila,
was among victims of the skirmishes, adding that over 40,000 people had been
rendered homeless by the attack. The attack in Kaduna In a related development,
three villages around Godogo town, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna
State, were invaded by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, leaving 11 dead and
injuring scores and torching parts of the village. A source from the village
informed Vanguard on phone that six men and three women were killed at Gada
Biyu, while two men were killed at Akwa’a, with shooting still on going at
Anguwan Anjo at press time. The source said: “Herdsmen invaded Gada Biyu, 2km
from Godogodo early Monday morning, started shooting and burning down houses.
People fled in different directions. However, the Police were quick to arrive
and the invaders fled into the bushes. “When they left, four corpses were
discovered. Today (yesterday), after combing the bushes, five more dead bodies
were found, among them were three women. “When the killers escaped from Gada
Biyu, they resurfaced at Akua’a, yesterday, morning and killed two people. But
they did not burn any house there. The Police arrived on time again, and they
ran away. “But, yesterday afternoon, they appeared at Anguwan Anjo and started
shooting, but by this time people had fled the village, and the police also
arrived promptly. “However, about an hour ago, the police, who have not had any
rest, went to get some food in town. Now, I am sure if you listen very well you
will hear the sound of heavy gun fire. They are shooting from afar. “We believe
that the motive of the attackers is to displace us and take over our lands. In
Anguwan Anjo, our surprise is that the Hausa settlers there did not run away.
There is a river there full of fish and we fish with them. “Also, since we
heard that our villages have become part of Sanga Grazing Reserves, we have not
known peace.” But, Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, ASP Aliyu Usman, said
he was yet to get details of the attack, but assured that everything had been
brought under control with the deployment of a contingent of Operation Yaki on
ground at the embattled villages. “I do not have details, but I will brief you
later,” he said.
No fewer than 26 people
have been reportedly killed as gunmen suspected to be herdsmen
allegedly invaded communities in Adamawa and Kaduna states, also
injuring scores, while many were declared missing.
While 15 persons were confirmed killed during the attack on Kodomun
village and other adjourning villages in Demsa Local Government Area of
Adamawa State, 11 were slaughtered in three villages around Godogo
town, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, 250km South of
Kaduna town.
HerdsmenHerdsmen
At press time, yesterday, Vanguard gathered from locals at Kodomun
village and other adjourning villages that the figure might be much
higher as scores of others were still missing in the hinterland.
It was learned that fighting is still raging in remote parts of the
communities as the suspected herdsmen operate from their hideouts at
will and attack defenceless farmers.
Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Mr. Martins Babale; the Brigade Commander
of the 23rd Armored Brigade, Yola, Brigadier General Benson Akiroluyo,
and Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ghazzali, yesterday,
visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
The trio had earlier visited the paramount ruler of Batta, Hamman Batta,
Chief Alhamdu Teneke, to commiserate with him over the incidents.
Speaking to newsmen at the palace of the Hamman Batta, the member
representing Demsa Constituency in Adamawa State House of Assembly, Mr.
Lumsan Dilli, disclosed that the causalty figures given by the villagers
were higher than that.
According to him, scores of other people have been declared missing and
most of them are presumed dead.
The lawmaker added that the migrating herdsmen continued to kill, maim
and burn villages as they moved towards their destinations, disclosing
that dead bodies unaccounted for were more than the ones recovered so
far.
Dilli called for serious security intervention to prevent the situation
from degenerating to full blown war as the affected villagers are
mobilizing for reprisal attack.
Also speaking to newsmen, chairman of Demsa Local Government Council,
Mrs. Wale Fwa, disclosed that a newly elected councillor for the area,
Mr. Hani Habila, was among victims of the skirmishes, adding that over
40,000 people had been rendered homeless by the attack.
The attack in Kaduna
In a related development, three villages around Godogo town, in Jema’a
Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were invaded by gunmen suspected
to be herdsmen, leaving 11 dead and injuring scores and torching parts
of the village.
A source from the village informed Vanguard on phone that six men and
three women were killed at Gada Biyu, while two men were killed at
Akwa’a, with shooting still on going at Anguwan Anjo at press time.
The source said: “Herdsmen invaded Gada Biyu, 2km from Godogodo early
Monday morning, started shooting and burning down houses. People fled in
different directions. However, the Police were quick to arrive and the
invaders fled into the bushes.
“When they left, four corpses were discovered. Today (yesterday), after
combing the bushes, five more dead bodies were found, among them were
three women.
“When the killers escaped from Gada Biyu, they resurfaced at Akua’a,
yesterday, morning and killed two people. But they did not burn any
house there. The Police arrived on time again, and they ran away.
“But, yesterday afternoon, they appeared at Anguwan Anjo and started
shooting, but by this time people had fled the village, and the police
also arrived promptly.
“However, about an hour ago, the police, who have not had any rest, went
to get some food in town. Now, I am sure if you listen very well you
will hear the sound of heavy gun fire. They are shooting from afar.
“We believe that the motive of the attackers is to displace us and take
over our lands. In Anguwan Anjo, our surprise is that the Hausa settlers
there did not run away. There is a river there full of fish and we fish
with them.
“Also, since we heard that our villages have become part of Sanga
Grazing Reserves, we have not known peace.”
But, Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, ASP Aliyu Usman, said he was
yet to get details of the attack, but assured that everything had been
brought under control with the deployment of a contingent of Operation
Yaki on ground at the embattled villages.
“I do not have details, but I will brief you later,” he said.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/26-killed-in-kaduna-adamawa-bloodbath/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/26-killed-in-kaduna-adamawa-bloodbath/
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