- Buratai gives army three weeks to clear Birnin-Gwari of bandits
Some suspected Fulani herdsmen early hours of on Monday attacked two communities in Kogi west, killing 10 persons.
It was reliably gathered that the herdsmen invaded two Tivs settlement, one in Ilai, the outskirts of Mopamuro, and the other in Ido-Gbede of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State at about 4a.m. yesterday.
A source close to the two local government areas told Newsmen that the herdsmen, numbering over 50, invaded the two communities, heavily armed with AK47 rifles.
They equally damaged goods worth several millions of naira and also stole some foodstuffs from both communities during the attacks.
Some of the victims in a phone chat with Newsmen said they were surprised that the Fulani herdsmen attacked them.
According to the victims, the herdsmen invaded the communities at about 4a.m., and immediately they arrived, in the area, they started shooting sporadically which made people to run for their lives.
They disclosed further that 10 persons were killed during the attack on the two communities, stressing that the Fulani herdsmen were fully armed with dangerous weapons such as AK47 rifles, cutlasses, axes among others.
Meanwhile, the Administrator of Mopamuro Local Government Area, Hon Moses Sunday David, has condemned the attack.
Reacting yesterday, he said: “I am surprised that the attack came barely a week after we had a peace and security meeting at the Elulu’s palace to forestall this kind of unfortunate occurrence.”
In a prompt on-the-spot assessment of the damage, the administrator in company of Alhaji Taofik Isah, Administrator Ijumu Local Government Area and ALGON Chairman, said: “We shall work with the security agencies to see that we enhance security architecture to ensure that people and properties are safe.”
David said he had contacted relevant government agencies immediately as he assured the people of the readiness of government to see that the menace become a thing of the past.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr. William Ayah, when contacted on the attack, said the command was yet to receive any report from the two communities, adding that he was not aware of the incident.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday charged troops to end the wanton killings and destruction of property in the axis within three weeks.
Speaking when he flagged-off the 2 Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) at the Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna State, he directed the troops to go after the bandits and wipe them out.
The army chief said: “We are no longer going to adopt the defensive approach, it must be offensive. Since the battle has been brought to you, you must take it back and crush them wherever they are.
“The killings must stop; the wanton destructions of properties must stop, not only within Kaduna state but across the country.
“In the next two, three weeks, there must be a very resounding results that will bring these criminals to their kneels finally.
“They are not coming from the moon, or coming from outer space, they are within this territory. I don’t know why you cannot go to where they are and get them fished out.
“Am happy with the initiative of the General Officer Commanding 1 Division and all the commanders for the new approach and I want to see a decisive result at the end of this operation.”
Buratai said the commanders have briefed him of their challenges and promised that the authorities have already started addressing some of these challenges.
“We must respond decisively and commanders must be personally held responsible for any lapse, they must decide and take appropriate action, and anything outside that, they must be held responsible,” he said.
The COAS said the next deployment must commence immediately, adding that other areas of logistic support and their welfare would be provided for them.
