By Abdullahi Dikko
Four persons have been killed in two separate road mishaps alongMokwa-Bida Road in Niger State.
Several people have also been reported killed in attacks by Fulaniherdsmen on two villages after their cattle was hit by a vehicle.
In the accident which happened at about 7.30 pm on Friday, two soldiers lost their lives when an army Hilux pick-up and a trailer collided at Labojin village, about 43 kilometres Mokwa.
Both vehicles were badly wrecked, causing great difficulty for rescue operatives who evacuated the corpses.
Confirming the incident, Mokwa sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Adedoyin Adeyinka, said two other army officers are receiving treatment for injuries sustained.
“We spent hours trying to separate the corpses of the two soldiers from the mangled vehicle while the injured officers were rushed toMokwa General Hopsital and they are responding to treatment,” he said.
The driver of the trailer has been arrested.
In less than 48 hours along same road, another accident occurred, this time between a petrol tanker and a Mitsubishi truck conveying water melon which claimed another two lives.
The victims are the driver of the truck and the owner of the consignment. They both died on the spot.
Adeyinka has blamed both accidents on the bad state of the road and cautioned motorists to be more careful when plying the route.
In another development, the chairman of Mokwa local government council of the state, Adamu Sonfada, has decried incessant attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen in the area.
Two communities in the council – Dokogi and Muwo – were attacked within three days leading to the destruction of several lives and properties.
It was gathered that some Fulani herdsmen attacked the people ofDakogi community of Kudu district in local government area last week Sunday after a resident of the village allegedly knocked down their livestock with his vehicle,.
The attack led to the killing of an undisclosed number of persons and the burning of several properties.
Barely three days after the Dakogi attack, another group of Fulaniherdsmen attacked another farmer in Muwo in the same local government area.
The Chairman of Niger State Traditional Council and EtsuNupe,Yahaya Abubakar, has called for truce between both groups and urged the Police to investigate the matter.
He condemned the attacks and pleaded with the families of the victims to exercise restraint in carrying out retaliation and pledged financial support to help cushion the effect of the havoc.
Abubakar said whoever is found guilty should be made to face appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law, adding that a committee would be constituted to look into the cause of clash.