Many people are feared killed in fresh outbreak of communal violence in three villages in Adamawa state.
The clashes occurred yesterday in Lawaru, Dong and Kiken villages in Demsa and Numan Local Government areas.
Fleeing residents have told Daily Trust that the attack started at about 5 am when gunmen suspected to be herdsmen allegedly shot their way into Lawaru and Dong villages, before marching towards Kiken in Numan.
Tension had been building up in Numan and neighbouring areas since 55 Fulani women and children were killed in an attack on their settlements by suspected Bachama militiamen two weeks ago.
Yesterday, a Bachama man interviewed by our reporter on telephone said the attackers had burnt down three villages inhabited by his tribesmen and killed several persons.
“Fulani herdsmen burnt down Lawuro and Dong and are currently in Kikan, the attack started in the morning but up to this moment, there is no security personnel in the villages. They killed people but we don’t know how many “, he said.
The North East leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Mafindi Danburan, in an interview with our reporter dissociated his members from the attack, saying the group had always preached peaceful coexistence.
Residents of Numan and adjoining villages have remained indoors following the deployment of troops to tame the violent confrontation between the two groups.
It was gathered that there was serious clash in Dong, Kirkum and Balum villages in the outskirt of Numan where some casualties were recorded.
“Some people have been killed in the affected villages, I don’t know how many because there is no movement,” Musa Aliyu, a resident of Numan said.
“It was just like what transpired few days ago in which the Fulanis were killed in Shallwal, Kegegewo, Kekal and Kulunso villages,” he said.
Though curfew had not been declared in the affected localities, residents who spoke on phone said everyone was indoors.
“Hundreds of soldiers and mobile policemen have been deployed,” said Modiba Ahmed, another resident of Numan.
“But there is no reported death in Numan even though the atmosphere is tensed and helicopters have been hovering over the sky,” he said.
The Police spokesman in Adamawa, SP Othman Abubakar confirmed the killing of the district head of Donga but could not give the number of the dead.
He added that mobile police men and soldiers deployed to the area had restored normalcy in the affected villages.
He denied reports that Numan-Gomber road had been closed and travellers were turned back by police men. He called on the public to ignore baseless rumours.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Umar Bindir and Commissioner of Information, Ahmad Sajoh, at a press conference on Monday, said the situation was under control as security were mobilised to halt the attacks.
“I can’t say the number of casualty for now as security are still there to chase out the attackers”, Sajoh stated.
“We are appealing to our people to desist from peddling lies and rumours aboout the situation of the crisis at hand.. Let us be on the side of restoration of peace as the government is also committed in restoring normalcy to Numan”, he said.
