Nasarawa: 17 killed in Eggon, Fulani clash

Nasarawa: 17 killed in Eggon, Fulani clash

No fewer than 17 people were killed on Sunday night during a clash between suspected Eggon youths and their Fulani counterparts in Alingani Fadaman Bauna, Lafia East Council Development Area of Nasarawa State.

FIRSTCLASSNEWSLINE learnt on Monday that the clash ensued when the Eggon youth attacked Alingani for the destruction of their farms by cattle belonging to the Fulani.

Investigations showed that the youth had on Saturday evening launched an attack on worshipers in a mosque, killing about three people and injuring many others.

FIRSTCLASSNEWSLINE also gathered that the youth also burnt down houses belonging to the fleeing Fulani cattle rustlers.

Our correspondent sighted more than 100 Eggon refugees comprising women and children who fled their ancestral homes.

The refugees were brought to the state capital in a truck to the Dalhatu Specialist Hospital.

An Eggon indigene , Musa Idris and Aisha Sule, said, “We cannot continue to stay in that community again because the Fulani have already taken over the entire community and there is no security man there to protect us.

“As we are talking to you now, our houses have been burnt by the attackers and our farms have been destroyed by the Fulani.

“The policemen that came to the area to rescue us were overpowered by the Fulani herdsmen in the area.”

An eye witness told our correspondent that the people that were killed were more than 25. He added that their corpses were dumped in a bush.

He said the fight broke out when the Fulani herdsmen encroached on farmlands belonging to the Eggon.

When contacted on the telephone, the state Secretary of Mayetta Allah Cattle

Breeders Association, Altai Hussein Abubakar, said that four Fulani people were killed by Ombatse militia.

He said, “Our leaders from both Eggon and Fulani communities in the state must not allow youths to set such a violent social agenda for us. So we are calling on our leaders, the government and security agencies to halt this lingering violent aggression.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ismaila Numan, Nasarawa State Command, said the Police took the three injured persons to the Dalhatu Araf