Fulani Herdsmen Invade Plateau,Nasarawa Villages,Kill 21

 NO fewer than 21 people were killed, while four other sustained injuries in the early hours of Thursday, when some group of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded a village in Barkin-Ladin Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Also, suspected Fulani herdsmen, on Wednesday evening, invaded Rijaya-Giwa village in Azara development area of Nasarawa State, killing four persons, with many others left injured.

A source close to Kakuk village, where the Plateau incident occurred, said the Fulani herdsmen, numbering about 30, with sophisticated weapon, invaded the village at about 1.00 a.m to rustle cows.

According to him, the rampaging Fulani herdsmen stormed the house of one Tsok Gwom and opened fire on the residence, leaving nine members of the family dead and four others injured.

Those injured were said to have attempted to run away from the house when the incident happened.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the youth within the village quickly mobilised for counter-attack and, in the ensuing melee, 12 Fulani herdsmen were killed, while some others escaped with varying degrees of injuries.

Those who sustained  injuries during the attack are receiving treatment at Plateau State Specialist Hospital, with two of  them at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Felicia Anslem, who confirmed the attack, said she could not give the number of casualties, because she was on her way to the affected village.

It was also learnt that the rampaging hoodlums had earlier struck on Monday at Mangu Hale and set a building on fire before they were overpowered by the natives.

They also reportedly attacked a settlement in Kombun ward and killed a man before they bolted away.

In Nasarawa, reports from the community revealed that one Alhaji Sale, who was alleged to have led a group of marauders, had been arrested with riffle and he was assisting the state police command in its investigations.

It was  reliably gathered that the victims, all of them farmers, were said to have been stabbed to death with weapons. According to findings, those killed were Samson Bala, Obadia Maiangwa, as well as Emmanuel Lucky and Akimsa Tabaya.

They were said to have died on arrival at Iluka Hospital, where they were rushed after the inicident, while their corpses had been deposited in the hospital morgue.

Those who sustained injuries were also said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

When contacted on phone, the state PPRO, Garba Mallam, said his office was yet to receive information on the incident.