Daji Sani in Yola
The Brigade Commander, 23 Armoured Brigade Yola, Brig. General Muhammed Bello, has confirmed the death of four policemen killed by suspected herdsmen.
He said the policemen were killed in Numan local Government Area of Adamawa State by some suspected herdsmen numbering up to over 60 well-armed men
Gen. Bello said his men after receiving distress call, mobilised to repel the Fulani militia.
He explained that the attackers were above 60 in number that the army had to use RPG to subdue them.
According to him the worst thing is that there were no men, women or children in the village when the army arrived there except the militia.
There is apprehension in Numan as there seems to be a slight drop in activity in the area as some residents are seen leaving the area.
Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar has also confirmed to that four police officers have been ambushed and killed in an overnight deadly attack by some unknown gunmen in Numan.
SP Othman said the identity of the gunmen was yet to be determined as force was still investigating the shooting.
Locals however said that there had been a sustainable gunfire involving Fulani gunmen and members of the police force causing panic and mass exodus of residents of the area.
However about 60 Fulanis were killed in attacks by militiamen in Numan last week.
The attacks on the mainly Fulani settlements were by armed gangs suspected to be of the predominant Bachama ethnic group in the area.
Locals and security sources confided that the incident started late midnight in Dowaya village where those that were attacked in Shafaran, Shawal, Gumara, Kikam and Kadamti villages relocated, “they relocated to Dowaya village where they mourned their brethren that were killed in the recent attack.
“However some residents in the area were not comfortable, so they tip-off and mobile police launched a night operation to arrest the some Fulani leaders and the incident resulted to a serious battle during which at least 6 mobile police were said to have been killed.
“As I am talking to you, more security was deployed to Dowaya area including soldiers and they have cordoned-off the village.
“There is pandemonium right now in Numan and environs; already residents are fleeing for fear of reprisals.
“Just last night we got distress call that some people in security uniform stormed them and had shot two youths, so definitely in this kind of situation anything could happen.
“And that’s the situation for now, even we at the neighboring villages are not safe, and many had fled,’’ he said.
