Three people were yesterday killed, while several houses were razed in some Tiv settlements in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
Among the three persons killed was Personal Assistant to the state Commissioner for Community and Rural Development, Mr. Godwin Mbatsav who was said to have met his untimely death at Abuni village, while searching for his wife who was among those displaced when some of the gunmen invaded the area.
Eyewitnesses said the corpse of one of the victims, identified as James Orjime, had been deposited at Sandanji Hospital mortuary in Lafia.
The third victim has also been identified as Mrs. Timbee Unzughul of Gidan Chiakaa of Jangaru ward in Awe Local Council.
Her step son, Christoper Unzughul, escaped with gunshot injuries and is reportedly receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state.
The gunmen dressed in military camouflage, a source said, were on their way to attack Iordye village in Guma Local government Area of Benue State, when they fired on the Tiv settlements they came across.
The source added that they burnt down the house of a former commissioner in the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, NASIEC, Mr. Thomas Gaar in Jangangere ward, also in Awe Local Government Area.
The attack could not be immediately confirmed as Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent Cornelius Ocholi, denied any knowledge of the attack when contacted.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Guma council, Mr. Frank Adii, yesterday, lamented over the level of destruction of lives and property in the affected communities where over 7,000 have been displaced.
He added that many of those injured had been referred from the Guma General Hospital to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital for proper medical attention.
“The situation on ground is bad, but we have been able to recover nine bodies from parts of the affected communities and they have been deposited at the Gbajimba General Hospital.
“The situation is bad. We have a serious refugee situation on our hands at the moment considering that over 7,000 persons have been displaced since this crisis started and we have been able to camp them at Gbajimba.
“We need help because this is beyond the scope of the state and local governments. Luckily, as I speak to you, soldiers have moved in to Gbajimba, the local government headquarters, and are already mobilising to move into the crisis areas to check further killing,” Adii said.
hap ramadan