By Musa Isa Ahmed

Kwahine, a community in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State was thrown into chaos on Saturday when armed herdsmen reportedly attacked the village killing at least three persons and destroying properties worth millions of naira.

Kodomun, another community in the area was similarly attacked last August.

The latest attack occurred around 3 pm on Saturday shortly after a delegation of the Adamawa state government delivered relief materials to Kodomun community in Demsa local government of Adamawa state.

The number of casualties is yet to be determined as both the Police Public Relations Officer and the state commissioner of Information were unavailable for comment as at the time of filing this report, but eye witnesses said at least three persons lost their lives.

Earlier in the day, a state government delegation led by the Deputy Governor of Adamawa state,  Martins Babale delivered relief items and financial donations of N10 million and about 797 bags of rice to Kodomun community in Demsa local government area, as compensations following attacks on the community by a group of unknown armed herdsmen in the area which claimed over 30 lives and loss of properties worth millions of naira in August of 2016.

The incessant clash between the Kodomun community and the Fulani herdsmen has led to reprisal attacks that resulted in the loss of about 47 cows by the herdsmen.

Presenting the relief materials to the people of  Kodomun, Governor Umar Jibrilla, represented by his deputy  said, “the assistance is part of the peace building Mechanism put in place by government towards finding a lasting solutions to the crisis.”

“Government is going to implement the recommendations of the white paper on the report of the commission of enquiry and punish accordingly those involved in perpetrating the crisis.

“I urge you to be your brother’s keepers by imbibing the spirit of forgiveness and forge ahead for the progress of the area and the state at large”.

He revealed that the  state government will soon constitute a Peace and  Reconciliation Committee to be saddled with responsibility of reconciling aggrieved people in the area.

The Adamawa state government has already paid N4.7 million as compensation to Fulani herdsmen over the loss of 47 heads of cow in the clash.

Mallam Ahmed Sajoh, the Adamawa State Commissioner of Information speaking with newsmen shortly after the presentation of  797 bags of Rice and N10million to the Kodomun community said, “the payment to the aggrieved herdsmen is to forestall the breakdown of law and order.”

“They said they lost 47 cows, so we said okay, we are going to compensate them with N100, 000 per cow and about N4.7million was given to them.”

Sajoh noted that, “the state government’s action should not initiate a very dangerous precedent, so we now looked at it and said this are the kinds of things that can result in an escalation of violence and uprising, and loss of lives and properties, and we took prompt actions to pacify the communities that are involved.”

The relief materials were received by the paramount ruler of Demsa, Alhamdu Teneke.

Chairman of the affected community, Pius Raymond, also appealed to government to beef up security in the area, as pockets of attacks are still recorded in the area.

He also called on the state government to rehabilitate houses destroyed as a results of the attacks.