Fulani herdsmen kill 25 in Nasarawa

Prosper

LAFIA—No fewer than 25 persons, including women and children, were yesterday feared killed by suspected Fulani insurgents at Arikya-Soni, a boundary area between Nasarawa-Eggon and Lafia local government areas of Nasarawa State.

Eyewitness told Vanguard in Lafia that the gunmen reportedly ambushed and killed their victims on their way back from the farms early in the morning, and seized nine motorcycles belonging to the deceased persons.

A mass burial was yesterday conducted for the victims after their remains were recovered at Umme, at about 1 pm.

A survivor from the early morning attack

The victims, who are all of Eggon ethnic nationality of the state, hailed from Umme, Arugbadu and Bakyano villages of Nasarawa Eggon local government area.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Nasarawa State command, confirmed the incident and said investigation had commenced to unravel the perpetrators of the criminal act.

A survivor, Mrs. Saratu Mustapha, told newsmen at Ashangbo clinic in the locality where she is receiving treatment for gun shots wound, that she was returning from the farm in company of her husband and sister on a motorcycle when the gunmen attacked them.

She explained that her husband and her sister were among those killed during the attack, stating that she was able to escape into the bush.

Another survivor from Arugbadu, Habibu Mohammed, explained that he was returning from the farm along with his parents when Fulani gunmen opened fire on them.

Mohammed who could not control his emotions, further explained that he lost his parents in the attack as well as his motorcycle with which he was conveying them.

Reacting to the incident, a member representing the area (Nasarawa Eggon East constituency) in the state House of Assembly, Mohammed Muluku, who led journalists to the scene of the incident, expressed shock over the high casualty figure.

He called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the area to prevent further attacks on his constituents.

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