Gunmen invade, kill villagers during morning downpour in Nasarawa

  10 persons were feared killed when a large number of gunmen invaded Gidan Gambo settlement of Lafia-East, at the outskirt of the capital of Nasarawa State during a morning downpour, fleeing villagers said. Displaced persons said the gunmen, who they suspected to be Fulani nomads, raided the Eggon village with sophisticated weapons, including AK47 and machetes, with which […]

 

10 persons were feared killed when a large number of gunmen invaded Gidan Gambo settlement of Lafia-East, at the outskirt of the capital of Nasarawa State during a morning downpour, fleeing villagers

said.

Displaced persons said the gunmen, who they suspected to be Fulani nomads, raided the Eggon village with sophisticated weapons, including AK47 and machetes, with which they killed and injured several others.

“We were awaken by gunshots from all directions. The invaders came in

rain and killed many of our people,” said a displaced person who ran

into Lafia. He said no fewer than 10 persons were killed during the invasion.

Leader of Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA), Chris Mamman corroborated the account of the displaced persons, saying “they planned and hit the Eggon settlement, and then, like they did previously, disappeared.”

Mamman said the casualty figure was difficult to ascertain because displaced persons were yet to return to their place to pick up the bodies.

 Reacting,the leader of Myetti Allah, Abdullahi Bodejo said he heard of the attack on Gidan Gambo, but insisted that it was too early for him to confirm that Fulani nomads perpetrated it.

He, however, said only two days ago, gunmen he suspected to be Eggon youths invaded a village in Nasarawa-Eggon, and razed down a house belonging to a relative of the state chairman of Miyetti Allah, Hassan Ciroma.

He said the growing animosity between Eggon and Fulani people is caused by criminal elements among the two ethnic groups, and said the leadership of the Fulani has continued its efforts for the leaders of the two ethnic groups to meet, without success because, according to him “Eggon leaders have always turned down our call for peace talks.”

State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Umaru Ismaila confirmed the invasion, but insisted that the police are aware only one person was killed. “Our men and the military mobilized to the trouble spot immediately the report got to us.

They recovered one corpse,” ASP Ismaila said.

The police spokesman said security operatives stationed there have returned calm to the troubled village.