Again killer herdsmen kill farmers harvesting crops in Taraba

By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

Killer herdsmen Monday attacked displaced farmers who were trying harvest their produce at Vande village in Amadu, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing at least Four persons.

The monarch of the affected community Zaki Simon Terhemba told our Correspondent on phone that the people mobilised in group and went to the farm to try and harvest some of their produce for food when they came under attack by the killer herdsmen resulting in the death of Four.

Zaki Terhemba said that about Eleven vehicles and several motorcycles that had conveyed the people to the farms.

“What is happening is really very dad. Yesterday, my people who have farms around Vande in Kofai Amadu village organised and went to get good from their farms. They went in company of some soldiers who escorted them.

“Just a few minutes after they started harvesting, they came under heavy attack from the killer herdsmen who have already destroyed their homes and much of their farms.

“Ten soldiers escorted civilians to their farms. The civilians used Eleven private vehicles to transport food items and farm produce. While on the farmland, the group was ambushed by armed Fulani Ethnic Militia. During the encounter, the soldiers reportedly ran out of ammunition, leading to the capture of Four soldiers alive.

“One of the captured soldiers, identified as Valentino, who was operating a PKT machine gun, was shot in the leg and later in the abdomen. He was subsequently killed, and his body was severely mutilated. His weapon was taken by the attackers from what the people said” he said.

Spokesperson of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army Lt Umar Muhammad told our Correspondent that the Brigade is currently investigating the situation.

He insists that the Brigade remains firmly committed to protecting the lives and property of the people, and warned that any group fermenting trouble will face stiff resistance from the army.

Our Correspondent reports that villages around Kofai-Amadu and Chanchanji have been destroyed by killer herdsmen and over a hundred people have been killed in the area since the commencement of harvest season this year.