Fresh Attack: Gunmen Kill Four, Injure Scores

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani Herdsmen have reportedly killed no fewer than four persons, with about 27 injured in an attack on Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The President of the Christian Reformed Church, Nigeria (CRC-N), Rev. Caleb Ahima, made this known in a letter addressed to the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday, a copy obtained by Sahara Reporters.

He said the onslaught by Hausa-Fulani Islamic insurgents have continued in the area since February, adding that many of the assailants that attacked Sondi village were putting on military uniform.
“The villages of Gindin Waya and Sondi were attacked in the morning of the Day of the Lord on which Christians gather to worship the Lord. This is the third time that the Muslims have attacked Christians on Sunday. The attack of today led to the death of four persons in Gindin Waya, and twenty-seven persons in Sondi. Among the dead are the pastor of the Sondi Church and his only male child,” he said.


The clergyman further hinted that other reports reaching the headquarters of the CRC-N Church in Takum, southern part of the state, revealed that a pastor identified as Nuhu Useni, was murdered in his farm by suspected Fulani herdsmen. He said the deceased is espected to laid to rest on Monday.

Ahima assured that the Chairman of the Christian Association of Wukari ascertain all the information on Sunday evening, expressing the believe that the attacks and destruction of human lives and properties seem to have continued because security operatives ignore the information being given to them.

“The State government with whom lies the onus to protect the lives and properties of the citizens as provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seems to have interest in these killings and displacement of people, with attending sufferings by women and children especially,” he said.

The clergyman, who stated that he was writing in pain urged the national CAN President, Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor, and the Federal Government to come to their rescue and stop the bloodbath in the area.

Reverend Ahima, who alleged that the Hausa-Fulani north seems determined to wipe southern Taraba off the map of Nigeria said: “What is happening? How come that one local government area has been attacked seven times now and it seems as if the country has no good security intelligence gathering network, or that security reports are not being used?.
It would be recalled that in April, 2014, Fulani herdsmen reportedly slaughtered 77 People in an attack in Wukari, Taraba State.

Also on September 14, 2014, suspected herdsmen allegedly attacked Tunari village in Wukari Local Government of Taraba State, and killed no fewer than twenty persons and injures scores of others.