Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen
on Sunday night reportedly killed three persons among them, one Pastor
Luka Ubangari of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Unguwan Anjo,
near Godogodo in the Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The cleric was said to have been
ambushed, shot and killed while on his motorcycle after an evangelical
visit to Golkofa, also in the area.
The incident occurred a few days after
the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, visited Godogodo and Sanga
districts, in the Jema’a and Sanga local governments areas, all in the
southern part of the state to appraise the attacks of suspected Fulani
herdsmen in the area.
El-Rufai in the affected villages of
Gada Biyu, Anjo and Godogodo penultimate Tuesday, condemned the
killings, describing them as ‘senseless,’ promising to arrest the
perpetrators.
A source told our correspondent that two
days after the murder of Ubangari, suspected herdsmen attacked Ningon
village, 6km from Gwantu, headquarters of Sanga LGA, killing two
persons and seriously injuring another person.
The source, who craved for anonymity,
noted that their joy during the visit of the state governor to the area,
turned sour as result of the latest attack.
He said, “We were happy that Governor
Nasir el-Rufai visited and assured us of improved security and that the
killers would be found and punished.
“To our shock, Pastor Luka Ubangari was
ambushed, shot and killed as he was riding his motorcycle after an
evangelical visit to Golkofa. He was killed by Fulani men who were out
to remove us from our ancestral lands.”
Mr. Nuhu Tukura, the President of the
Ningon Community Development Association, said Ningon was attacked on
Sunday night and two natives, Gambo Sule, 38, and Benjamin Auta, 35,
were killed by gunmen.
He added that the police only arrived on Monday morning following a distressed call put on to them on Sunday night.
Tukura said, “At 8:45pm Sunday night, Mr. Gambo Sule, 38, Mr. Benjamin Auta, 35, were killed by unknown herdsmen.
“We are seriously troubled by all these
happenings. Now, we don’t even know what we can do to have rest. Our
farms, we cannot go, and our houses we cannot live in. What else shall
we do?
“We called the police immediately the
incident occurred around 8:45pm on Sunday night, but they did not come
until around 7:30, this morning, (Monday). “We are pleading with the
state government to help us with security and assist us in feeding. Most
farmers are afraid to go to the farm and there will be food scarcity
problem this year and the next.”
The Kaduna State Police Command Public
Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the incident told our
correspondent on phone that only one person was killed.
Usman said but for the timely intervention of the police, the casualty figures would have been higher.
He said the police used armoured personnel carriers to chase the armed bandits out of the villages.
Usman said, “When the people learnt of
the invasion of the attackers, the police in the area swiftly moved in
with APC to chase away the attackers. However, one person was killed.
Our men acted quickly to save the situation.”
