Hon Gaza, in company of security men, going round destroyed houses in Tattara
By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
Twelve (12) persons have been reportedly killed during a two-day serial attacks by suspected herdsmen who invaded Tattara Mada, Migini, Angwan Barau communities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Eyewitness, said houses and property worth millions of naira belonging to the locals were also razed down during the attacks which started on Sunday night.
Our correspondent gathered that the crisis started when a Fulani lad, allegedly led his herds and destroyed sugarcane plantation and when the owners saw him, they beat him to stupor.
The Fulani boy managed to control the cattle back to their settlement (ruga) and reported to his parents, who resorted to giving home treatment and the boy died in the process, so the Fulani, threatened action.
When the news of what happened the previous day went into the village on Sunday, another sugarcane farm owner went to check his plantation and he met some herdsmen allegedly destroying his farm, he spoke to them and quarrel ensued, they overpowered the farmer and machete him to death.
A source who begged for anonymity told our correspondent that “When the family couldn’t see him, they traced him to the farm and discovered that he was killed, so they brought the corpse home, from then tension started growing because the news had gone round adjoining villages”
“So, on Monday morning when some youths from Tattara, summoned courage and went to Fulani settlement (ruga), to know what happened, they discovered that the Fulani, had sent their wives, children and cows, away; as they were talking, the Fulani men came out with arms and attacked them and killed one person, others escaped with various degrees of wounds”
“As I speak to you, 11 corpses are in the mortuary at General Hospital Garaku, one was discovered this morning (Thursday) and some are no where to be found. Because, they invaded our village on Tuesday and started shooting sporadically and people ran helter skelter and they killed 4 persons”
“Four of the guys ambushed and killed by the herdsmen were those coming from Angwan Migini and Angwan Barau, to see what happened in Tattara, on Wednesday” he said.
He added that at the moment there are high tension in Anza, Kundami, Angwan Mainasara, Angwan Takwa and even parts of Garaku, the headquarters of Kokona local government.
The Member representing Karu/Keffi Keffi Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Gbefwi Jonathan Gaza, who visited Tattara Mada on Wednesday condemned in strongest terms the attack which displaced many.
Gaza, who won his re-election in the just concluded elections, said the killings are unnecessary, as he appealed to Mada and Fulani herdsmen, to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in the area and the state at large.
On his part, Hon. Awalu Adamu, Chairman of Kokona LGa, who confirmed crisis, declined giving the actual figures of those killed.
Adamu, said the council in collaboration with security agencies are on top of the situation and “peace is gradually returning to the area” he said.
Meanwhile, tge Nasarawa State Police command’s spokesman, Rahman Nansel, has confirmed the incident, saying that the figures chunked out on the social media are exaggerated.
“According to the report we got from the DPO, one Fulani and two farmers were killed in the crisis and our people have evacuated the corpses and as I talked to you, our men are stationed permanently in the area” he said.
