By 
…As Fulani militia kill eight killed in Plateau
Abiodun OBA
Gunmen invaded Damari communities in the eastern part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State kidnapping more than 50 locals and displaced many.
The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union (BEPU), in a statement on issued by the Chairman, Ishaq Usman Kasai, said in the last five days, they have been alerting the relevant authorities and the general public on the cruel, wicked and heartless attacks by terrorists in Damari following the withdrawal of Ansaru, a splinter group of Boko Haram from the area.
“The sad event in the last Seventy-two hours in Damari town of Kazage Ward in the Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area Kaduna State has reached a catastrophic situation,” he said.
Kasai explained that as at Saturday, ” bandits encircled Damari and abducted about 50 people, shortly before and after troops from Military field-base from Dogon-Dawa went to the town and escorted some
remnants of the residents who were willing to move to comfort zones in neighbouring communities and even to as far away Zaria.”
“The most worrisome situation is where a pregnant woman was running away alongside her colleagues and was left away by the fleeing groups where she fell down and delivered a baby boy. Unfortunately, both the mother and the baby lost their lives instantly.”
He said “Damari is considered as the largest town in the entire Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari and with this worrisome development, about 20 thousands persons including Women and Children are rendered internally displaced (IDPs).”
“Even today, the bandits returned to the town unchallenged, burnt a vehicle, kidnapped scores, intercepted and maltreated people, a serious development that reflects the level of serious insecurity situation facing our community.”
“This calamitous atrocities of bandits have made the people of Damari, the agrarian community that yearly produced over 600 tonnes of maize grains abandoned their ancestral homes and farms for safety.”
“BEPU is highly concerned over the ugly situation of the citizens of Birnin-Gwari LGA particularly those in the local communities where despite all efforts to draw the attention of higher authorities for action as entails in their constitutional responsibilities has failed.”
“BEPU is deeply sympathizing with all the people of Damari over this trials and assures them of continued efforts towards supporting them in all possible ways especially in humanitarian emergency needs and would never relent on advancing engagement with Government, whose major and primary responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution is the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry, to do the needful.”
In a related development, armed men on Sunday night invaded the Danda Chugwi community of Jos South local government area of Plateau State killing seven people on the spot and injuring two others.
The injured were taken to the hospital where one of them later died, bringing the death toll to eight.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, BYM, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident saying “Seven people have been confirmed dead at Danda Chugwi community following an attack by Fulani militias. The attack happened on Sunday, 31/07/2022 at around 9:00 pm. Others who sustained serious gun injuries have been taken to Vom Christian hospital for immediate medical attention.”
But the State Police Command could not confirm the incident as the phone number of the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo was switched off while that of the Media Officer of the Operation Safe Haven, OpSH, Major Ishaku Takwa was not reachable at the time of this report.
David Davou, a resident, lamented that “what happened was that a family of Mr. Pam Gyang was attacked, some of them were shot and cut with a machete. Seven members of the family died immediately but one later died in the hospital. This brings the total number of people killed in cold blood to eight.”
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