Gunmen suspected to be Fulani attackers, on Friday night, killed 20 persons and burnt over 70 houses in Arikya and Anshangwa villages in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that many residents were displaced in the attack which occurred around 11 pm.
The incident took place barely six days after Fulani invaders, numbering over 200, raided Gidan Gambo, 30 kilometres away from Lafia, the state capital, killing 10 people, razing over 50 houses and leaving hundreds displaced.
Abdullahi Buldi, one of the insurgents captured by the youths during the attack on Gidan Gambo, had told journalists that they were hired to attack Eggon communities in the state.
A source, who did want his name in print, told SUNDAY PUNCH the attack at Arikya and Ashangwa was a reaction to the capture of Buldi by Eggon youths.
An eyewitness of the incident, Alaku Alumbugu, who escaped to Lafia, said the Fulani attackers shot sporadically in all directions.
He said, “As I speak to you I don’t know the whereabouts of my family members. The attackers were too many and they were shooting in all directions. I took to my heels.”
Our correspondent saw some of the displaced persons taking refuge at the headquarters of Eggon Local Government Area of the state with their bags and other valuables on their heads. Some had their babies strapped to their back.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, Ismaila Numan, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, however stated that there was no casualty and that few houses were burnt.
Numan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, added that security personnel had been deployed in the area to restore peace and order.
No comments:
Post a Comment