By Musa Isa Ahmed Yola
The Nigerian Police Command in Adamawa has said about 400 yet to be identified armed Fulani herdsmen invaded Gidan Dadi and Karlahi villages of Demsa Local Government of the state last Saturday killing scores of residents, including police officers.
The attack happened few hours after a government delegation led by the Adamawa state deputy governor delivered relief materials to the community over attacks by unknown Fulani gunmen in August, 2016.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar said, “About 400 fulani militia overrun the villages killing 3 officers, 2 other officers are missing and 4 riffles belonging to the police force are also missing.”
He added that “the police killed several of the Fulani militia but they were able to leave with the corpses of their men.”
The Adamawa state government has condemned the attacks on Kwayine, Gidan Dadi and Karlahi villages in Demsa local government as, “unfortunate, unwarranted and totally unacceptable.”
In a statement issued by the Adamawa state commissioner of Information and strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, the government said the action of the herdsmen was ’’capable of derailing the peace process initiated by the state government.”
Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla has directed security agencies to deploy more security personnel to the area to ensure that the security of lives and properties in the area is “adequately guaranteed.”
Some residents of the three villages who spoke to press men said, several people were killed and their houses burnt down. Residents blamed the repeated attacks on their communities on the state government’s failure to act decisively and in good time.
They said government had sufficient information on the alleged perpetrators since they had met with them and even paid compensation.
However, while delivering relief materials to Kodomun community last Saturday, the deputy governor, Martins Babale, said government’s action was guided by the recommendations of the Joshua Atiku led panel of inquiry into the crisis.