From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has described the brutal killing of innocent people in Ajimaka village of Doma Local Government Area of the state as reprehensible, callous and inexcusable.
Governor Sule who condemned the act perpetrated by unknown gunmen said the attack which did not spare women or children was devilish and capable of truncating the relative peace in the state.
The governor, in a statement issued recently by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ibrahim Addra, said that the security operatives have since commenced investigations to expose the criminals with a view to punishing them according to the laws of the land. “My condolences and prayers are with families of those whose lives were lost. I urge them and the rest of our citizens to be rest assured that this administration will do all within its power to ensure Justice, peace and security across the state,” Governor Sule said.
He, therefore, called on the people to be calm and support the law enforcement agents in the collective fight against evil.
It could be recalled that nine persons were reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in an attack on Ajimaka, a Tiv farming community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The gunmen, who were said to be carrying sophisticated weapons, invaded the community recently, shooting sporadically which led to the death of nine persons while several others are reported missing.
An eyewitness gave names of some persons killed during the attack to include Tsekaa Chiatyo (m), Kwaghdoo Tsekaa (f), Sewuese Tsekaa (f), Bobo Chiatyo (m), Aondoseer Fidelis (m), Aboyi Aduku (m) and Mwuese Aseer (m).
The President of Tiv Development Association (TIDA) in Nasarawa State, Comrade Peter Ahemba who confirmed the incident while speaking with journalists in Lafia, described the attack as unprovoked and unfortunate.
Comrade Ahemba said the attacks on the Tiv people of the state, particularly those living at the border areas between Benue and Nasarawa States have become a recurrent decimal, despite efforts by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom to ensure lasting peace.
“Each time the Fulani herdsmen have issues relating to implementation of the anti-open grazing law by the Benue State government, they come and attack our (Tiv) people in Nasarawa state.
“We are indigenous Tiv people of Nasarawa State. We are peace-loving people and the Fulani herdsmen must stop attacking our people for things they know nothing about,” he said.
He lamented that the ugly development has led to the displacement of thousands of Tiv farmers in the area, regretting that the incident was happening at a critical time farmers were set to commence the current farming season.
The TIDA president appreciated the efforts so far made by the Nasarawa State government to ensuring peace and security at the border areas of the state, but appealed to the state government to deploy security operatives to the trouble area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
He called on the Tiv people to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands as the state government was taking measures to restore normalcy.
When contacted, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Nansel Ramhan, said the command was yet to receive any report on any occurrence of such an incident.
“We are yet to get the report so we don’t have details of the incident. Meanwhile investigation is still ongoing but then we cannot confirm the incident to you now. As soon as we get the report, we will get back to you,” the PPRO said.
