— 22 murdered in Zamfara
— We’ve cleared armed gangs from 3 states – DHQ
— Miyetti-Allah vows to sue FG at International Criminal Court
At least 52 Nigerians were killed yesterday in separate attacks in Nasarawa and Zamfara states.
Our sources said the figure could be higher.
In Nasarawa, the soldiers deployed last week by the federal government to some north-central states on the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday descended on Fulani nomads and killed over 30 of them.
The incident occurred in the morning at a settlement along the road to Giza town in Keana local government area of the state.
The soldiers invaded Fulani settlements in a convoy and allegedly shot every Fulani person in sight.
Most of the victims, who were said to be over 70 years of age, were felled down as they could not run from the gun shots.
An eyewitness said the Fulani had gathered to mourn the death of their colleague who died of snake bite a day before the incident when the soldiers launched the offensive.
He said that about 24 corpses were evacuated in the Fulani settlements.
“I was on my way to the office when I saw people running and later saw soldiers rushing into the town in convoy asking for Fulani,” the witness, who did not want to be named, said.
“I saw over twenty-four dead bodies of the Fulani being taken to Lafia in a white Hilux van.”
The secretary of the state Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Muhammed Husseini, said that over 30 Fulani were killed.
He accused the federal government of complicity in the killing of its people, adding that the organisation would sue the government and demand for a stop in the invasion of the rights of people.
Husseini said: “I am presently in the mortuary, receiving corpses. They killed over thirty of our men for no reason. This is genocide and we will approach the International court of justice (ICC).”
Husseini said that most of the people killed are over 70 years of age, adding that they were “sitting at home when they invaded our community.”
The chairman of Keana local government area, Hon Haruna Oshegba, however, said that eight bodies were deposited at the Specialist Hospital in Lafia, the state capital.
He said: “There is crisis in my council, and it is a military operation but I don’t know the detailed operational order, so I am trying to get information put together before I will know exactly what happens.
“There are casualties, and for now I have eight in the Specialist Hospital, Lafia.”
Also speaking, a Fulani leader, Ardo Sodangi, told newsmen at the specialist hospital that the military invaded their community with armoured tanks and guns, killing over 20 people.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Umar Isma’ila Numan, said he was yet to be briefed over the incident.
In Zamfara state, gunmen were reported to have killed 22 persons and burnt down houses in Maitsaba village of Zurmi local government area.
Impeccable sources said the gunmen, numbering about 40, invaded the village at noon and opened fire on people.
According the source, the latest attack was said to be carried out as result of the killing of a suspected notorious cattle rustler by the villagers.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Lawal Abdullahi, said he was waiting for official report from the Divisional Police Officer on the details of the attack.
Meanwhile, troops on a joint operation, tagged ‘Operation Restore Peace’ deployed to Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states have destroyed camps and recovered arms from militant gangs in the area, the Defence Headquarters said yesterday.
A statement issued by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said the troops have restored normalcy to Guma, Gwer West and Agatu local government areas of Benue state.
“Formation commanders of the Nigerian Army have moved to the various states in their area of responsibility to conduct the operations aimed at addressing deteriorating security situation in parts of the North-central,” he said.
“Troops deployed in Benue state have already cleared camps of all armed gangs in three local governments of the state.
“Normalcy has been restored in Guma, Gwer West and Agatu local government areas. Some arrests and recoveries have been made in the process.
“Tagged ‘Operation Restore Peace’, the mission has also resulted in the destruction of militant camps, arrests as well as recovery of arms in Shendam area of Plateau state. 2 AK 47 rifles were recovered after an encounter with troops of Special Task Force and the armed gangs in their enclaves in Shimanker in Plateau state.
“In Kaduna state, militants’ camps in Ladduga near Kachia were destroyed while arms were equally recovered in Maigungume Hills in Niger state.”
The director stated that General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are directly supervising these operations in their area of responsibility in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states as troops comb forests in the mission to apprehend members of armed gangs and destroy their enclaves.
