Group condemns attack on travellers at Adamawa-Taraba border

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has alleged that at least 40 Fulani travellers were ambushed and killed in the last one month in Numan and Demsa areas by members of farming communities.

Speaking to Daily Trust, the leader of Miyetti Allah in Adamawa State, Abdu Isa Jaoji, said three Fulani men were taken off their vehicle and killed on Thursday between Guyuk and Shelleng.

He also said armed Bali, Nyandan and Bachama men killed several people in Demsa near Mayo-Lope on the border with Taraba state.

“The Numan-Mayo-Lope road was barricaded by a militia for days and travellers perceived to be Fulani were forced out of vehicles and killed. The attack used to be against Fulani, now it has been extended to Muslims.”

The commander of 23 Armoured Brigade in Yola, Muhammad Bello, confirmed cases of isolated killings, but denied knowledge of mass killings in the area.

He said soldiers had been deployed to the villages to deal with trouble makers.

He said both the locals and Fulanis lived in panic owing to rumours of attacks, calling on the communities to disregard the rumours as they were baseless.

Meanwhile, commercial drivers inYola and Numan said they suspended operation on Numan-Mayolope road last week when locals blocked and killed passengers in reaction to attacks on some communities by gunmen.