‘Killing’ of Hausa barber sparks fresh tension in Numan

By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz
Yola

Palpable tension has enveloped crisis-ridden Numan area of Adamawa, following the alleged killing of a traditional Hausa barber (Wanzam) by suspected Bachama vigilante group.
The barber was alleged to have been arrested by the vigilante at Green Village, a Bachama dominated area of the town on Saturday and his whereabouts yet unknown.
“We have not seen him up to now and we suspected that he has been murdered by the vigilante following the discovery of his abandoned bag,” said a friend to the barber who simply identified himself as Garba Ibrahim.
Ibrahim said some of the suspects arrested in connection with the incident were held in Numan Divisional Police station where some Bachama youth had mobilised and threatened to make sure that the suspects were not taken to Yola CID headquarters for investigation.
Ibrahim said since the recent killing of over 50 Fulani women and children in the area by suspected Bachama militia, which led to reprisal attack on Bachama villages by herdsmen, there has been cases of silent killings of members of Hausa-Fulani community in the area suspected to be the handiwork of Bachama vigilante.
When contacted on the matter, the spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, SP Othman Abubakar, confirmed the missing of the barber, saying some suspects had been identified and that investigation was ongoing.
“I am yet to get full details of the arrest in Numan but I can assure that anyone involved will be brought to book,” Abubakar said.
It will be recalled that in its recent press briefings over the Numan killings, religious and civil society groups have called for the disarmament of vigilante groups in the area and more deployment of security personnel to the vulnerable places.

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