At
least 30 women and children were killed Monday in attacks by militiamen in
Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, police said.
Residents and security sources said the attacks
on the mainly Fulani settlements were by armed gangs suspected to be of the
predominant Bachama ethnic group in the area.
They however said the death toll was higher.
An affected resident, Oriwa Hammadu, said the
militia members were chanting war songs on Monday evening as they launched
attacks on the settlements in Shafaran, Shawal, Gumara, Kikam and Kadamti
villages in the area.
‘’The attacks came when all the men were out of
the areas. Many had gone to market and a wedding ceremony in Mayo-Belwa, so
they took us by surprise,” said Mr. Hammadu.
‘’I was on my way back from Numan town market
when I saw smokes billowing from our settlements. Later, I saw some Bachama
militia members numbering about 150 coming from our settlements.
“So, I had to sneak to save my life. But they
killed our children, women and burnt houses.
“They came with dangerous weapons including
machetes, daggers and guns and were chanting war songs in Bachama dialect.
‘’Both the injured and the corpses were
evacuated to Numan General hospital,’’ a distraught Mr. Hammadu said.
A truck
driver, Emmanuel Nwachuku who plies the Numan-Jalingo road said: ‘’The
attackers singing Bachama songs came in their dozens.
“We saw them while crossing to Dong road. Thank
God we escaped before they launched the attacks.’’
The spokesperson of Adamawa Police command,
Othman Abubakar, said about 30 persons were killed in the attacks on herdsmen
in the area.
‘’Thirty Fulani children and women were killed
during the attacks in Numan villages by suspected Bachama farmers and already
investigation has commenced to arrest the suspects.
‘’We were told the attackers hailed from the
affected areas. We are on the top of the situation and already investigations
have commenced to fish out those involved,’’ he said.
- Premium Times
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