Fifty Persons Killed In Adamawa, Taraba Fresh Attacks

Attack In Adamawa And Taraba Leading To Farmers Abandoning Their Farms

The attacks that took place in the border communities of Adamawa and Taraba, has led to the killing of over fifty people on Monday night.

Report has it that the attacks were carried out by Fulani militiamen, who were targeting the farming communities around Gojefa, Bujum Yashi, Bujum Waya, Sabonlayi and Bujum Kasuwa villages in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Some other communities like Anguwan Bishop Yotti, Todung, Budon, Bunzum and Bamga Dutse located in Taraba State were also affected by the attack.

Alhamdu Teneke, the traditional ruler of Demsa chiefdom, while reacting to the attack, said the attack has resulted in farmers abandoning their farms and this might be the start of famine.

Sodomti Tayedi, the member representing Numan in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, who confirmed the attack said more than 50 people were feared killed in the wave of the recent attacks.

She further stated that hardly does a week go without the community experiencing attack by suspected Fulani militia.

Tayedi said, “Our people are farmers but my community is now living in fear since these attacks started in November last year and have persisted up till date.

“We are hopeless and helpless; economic activities here have stopped. This is a farming season and if we cannot go to the farm, then poverty and starvation are what is left.

“We are calling on the government, as a matter of urgency, to come and secure our people and constituency since no one is allowed to take up arms, then it is the responsibility of the government to protect people.”

Galilee Ishaku, a resident of Sabon Layi, who survived the attack said, “Those who attacked us were Fulani and they came when we were in the market because it was market day.

“They suddenly entered our village and started shooting. We ran and cross over the river but they followed us and kept on shooting.

“Right now as I am talking, they are in our village, grazing on our farms.

“The people that I know were killed were more than 30 people but many of our villagers are still unaccounted for.”

Another resident, Dong Jonah, said the attacks usually followed rumours of an impending attack, adding that despite the early warnings to security agencies, measures were hardly taken to forestall the attacks.

However, the Adamawa State Government, on Tuesday through the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, condemned the attacks on Numan and Demsa communities, Naija News learnt.

He also expressed the government’s concern about the displacement caused by the attacks while assuring the residents that the state government was working to restore peace to the troubled area.