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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Gunmen have attacked Sarkin Noma community in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing two persons and abducting three others.
The incident occurred a few days after the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, declared the state no longer faces herders-farmers clashes but only “kidnapping by family members and friends”.
The latest incident, which occurred on Friday morning, led to a massive protest by angry youth, who blocked the Lafia–Makurdi federal highway with the corpses of the slain victims, demanding the governor’s immediate intervention.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers invaded the community at about 5a.m., shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.
One of the eyewitnesses, Pastor Gospel Agochukwu, who was travelling through the area after a crusade in Benue State, described the scene as horrifying.
“After our Benue crusade, on my way to Abuja airport to fly back to Port Harcourt, I witnessed killings and abduction of some persons in Sarkin Noma community. They blocked the federal road with the dead bodies and that’s what drew our attention,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the President of the United Farmers Association in Kadarko, Chief Denis Gbongbon Utsa, said heavily armed men suspected to be bandits carried out the attack.
“Heavily armed terrorists, the alleged Lakurawa bandits, invaded the Sarkin Noma community of Kadarko, killing and maiming. Two people were killed, three kidnapped, and many injured. Angry farmers blocked the Lafia/Makurdi Road, demanding Governor Sule’s visit to address the humanitarian crisis and deteriorating security threat,” he said.
The protest, which lasted several hours, disrupted traffic flow and caused gridlock on the highway as motorists were forced to turn back.
Residents have also expressed disappointment over the governor’s recent comment that the state no longer experiences herders-farmers clashes.
A youth leader in the area, who pleaded anonymity, faulted the governor’s statement, saying the current reality contradicts his claim. Though a joint patrol team had been deployed to restore calm to the area and clear the highway for free movement of vehicles, the Nasarawa State Police Command has not confirmed the incident as at the time of filing this report.
