Harvest of deaths across northern Nigeria…

 

…Herdsmen, suicide bombers, bandits wreak havoc

The orgy of deaths continued across the northern parts of Nigeria at the weekend as herdsmen, suicide bombers and armed bandits went on a killing spree.

Quoting the online publication SaharaReporters, Vanguard reports that yet-to-be-ascertained number of people were killed in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, as rampaging herdsmen were said to have invaded the area shooting.

According to SaharaReporters residents of Nukai, ATC, Kasuwan Bera, and Jauro-Sabai fled their area, as rattling gunshots continue to rend the air.

A resident of Kasuwan Bera, said: “Jalingo is on fire. Fulani herdsmen are on the rampage firing gunshots randomly here. We’re on the run.

“Some of our relations who escaped from Jauro-Sabai reported that many houses in the area have been razed, and from here we can see thick smoke billowing.”

Another resident said, “Fulani herdsmen in droves have invaded ATC and Jauro-Sabai. They are firing shots everywhere. Only God can save us tonight.”

However, Police in Taraba could not categorically state the situation, as David Misal, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the command had responded to a distress call from Yelwan-Tau, a community around ATC.

“I can’t confirm anything to you now, what I know for now is that we got a distress call from Yelwan-Tau and our men have been dispatched to tackle whatever security challenge in the area.

“So, as it is, I can’t tell you anything about the impact or casualty issues, for now, please,” Misal said.

In Borno State, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) today said 30 persons lost thier lives while 42 others were injured when three suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mandarari community of Konduga Local government area of the state.

Usman Kachala, SEMA Director Search, Rescue and Operations who disclosed this to news men when he visited the scene of the attack on Monday, said the incident occurred around 8pm on Sunday.

Kachala said that the three suicide bombers, comprising two females and a male, detonated the IEDs in a local tea joint and film center in the community.

He said that about 17 persons died instantly, adding that the death toll increased to 30 on Monday as a result of lack of immediate medical attention.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reporter who visited the scene of the attacks along with SEMA team reported that dozens of the wounded victims were seen being conveyed in pick-up vans by   relations to hospitals in Maiduguri, the state capital, a distance of about 80 km from their town.

In Zamfara state, where criminal gangs have been terrorising remote villages, police said yesterday that armed bandits on motorcycles stormed into neighbouring Tungar Kafau and Gidan Wawa villages in Shinkafi district late Friday and shot dead 34 people.

State police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said in a statement that normalcy had been restored in Tungar Kafau and Gidan Wawa following attack by armed bandits where 34 people were killed.

He said the victims of the attacks were buried on Saturday, adding that police were on the trail of the killers.

Local residents put the death toll higher, at 35.

The bandits were said to have opened fire on farmers in their fields outside the villages and also pursued those who fled.

“The bandits killed 35 people in the attacks,” said Lawwali Madattai, a resident.

Rural communities in Zamfara state have for years been terrorised by criminal gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle, kidnapping for ransom and burning homes after looting food supplies.

The bandits are known to hide in camps in Rugu forest which straddles Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states from where they launch attacks on communities in the area.

Last week, at least 40 people were killed and dozens injured in raids in eight remote villages in Niger state.