FULANI HERDSMEN ATTACK EGGON,10 KILLED, 40 HOUSES RAZED

Ten persons have been killed and 40 houses set ablaze in a fresh attack on Eggon community of Gidan Gambo in Lafia East Development Area of Nasarawa State by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Investigation by one of our correspondents indicated that the attackers, well armed with AK 47 rifles, defied early morning rain and attacked the village, killing 10 persons, injuring scores, and burnt 40 houses.

Our correspondents gathered that the attack on Gidan Gambo is the latest among the various attacks on Eggon communities carried out by Fulani insurgents since hostilities broke out between the warring parties in the state.

Speaking to our correspondent in Gidan Gambo, a resident, Likita Alaku, who said he managed to run away from the attack, said that the Fulani, numbering over 400 and armed with AK 47 rifles, stormed the village at about 6am and opened fire and killed 10 people.

‘’We wake up with a heavy rain and saw many Fulani people with AK 47 rifles surrounded the village and started shooting in all directions and burning houses,’’ he stated.

Alaku, who expressed worry over the sophisticated weapon in possession of the invading Fulani, advised the federal and state governments and security agencies to disarm the gunmen to prevent them from attacking innocent people further.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Umaru Ismaila Numan, who confirmed the incident, said only one person was killed in the attack.

He said the command had already mobilised its men to the scene of the incident in order to restore normalcy to the trouble area.

But further investigation by one of our correspondents revealed that about three bodies, who were killed in the recent crisis between Eggon, Fulani cattle breeders and Alago were found in some parts of Keana Local Government Area of the state decomposing. However, they were buried in the early hours of Tuesday by the inhabitants of the area.

Confirming the incident to one of our correspondents in a telephone interview in Lafia, the state capital, the PPRO said some people in Keana LGA reported the incident to the command, saying they found three bodies of unidentified persons in their area.