No fewer than five persons were reportedly killed yesterday in a communal clash between the Waja people in the border town of Nyuwar/Jessu in Gombe State and Lunguda in Adamawa State.
The clash followed a misunderstanding between the hunters from Jessu and Fulanis from Lunguda in Adamawa who have always had misgivings about themselves.
A group from Jessu was said to have gone to the forest for hunting when Fulani boys saw them and raised the alarm.
“What we learnt was that when the Fulani boys saw the hunters they raised alarms that they are being attacked by the hunters and reported to their father.
“The Fulani then came and started shooting, up till now that I am talking to you they are still fighting and burning houses,” said the eyewitness.
Commissioner of Police, Ishola Babaita, said he was on his way to the scene of the incident and cannot make comment yet.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya and other top government functionaries were also said to be on their way to the scene of the incident.
To douse tension, Gombe State Government imposed a 24- hour curfew on Nyuwar, Jessu and Yolde communities in Balanga Local Government Area with immediate effect.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, said the decision followed the violence that erupted in the communities.
He said security personnel have been deployed to restore normalcy while the curfew subsists until further notice.
