Six Arrested over Killing of Three Persons in Nasarawa

The interim Chairman of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Hudu Tafida, has disclosed that six suspects have been arrested by the police in connection with the alleged killing of three persons in Abagu village of the council area.

The three persons, according to the Awe council boss, were reportedly killed in the Abagu village of the council area following a spillover of communal clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Benue State at the weekend.

The IMC chairman disclosed this to journalists yesterday in Awe, headquarters of Awe Local Government Area of the state, adding that the six suspected killers are currently assisting the police with useful information.

Tafida therefore expressed shock over the way and manner people are taking the laws into their hands and warned the people with such heinous act to desist from doing so or would face the full wrath of the law.

He expressed fear that “though we are in dry season, but if the crises is not checked properly, it would escalate and affect the next farming activities in the area thereby causing food crisis in the state as al of those displaced persons are predominantly farmers.” He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Umaru Al-Makura for their prompt intervention to restore peace and order in the area, but however appealed for more manpower and personnel in order to checkmate the insecurity problem facing the area.

“I am calling on government at all levels to come to our aid especially with more security personnel in Awe Local Government Area in order to tackle the security challenges facing our people. As I am talking to you now, Tiv farmers in Awe council area are taking refuge in Awe town as their houses were burnt and property looted by the attackers,” Tafida appealed.

Meanwhile, the state government has donated relief material worth N50 million to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Awe and Keana Local Government Areas recently affected by the alleged herdsmen attacks on communities along Nasarawa and Benue States border.

The state Deputy Governor, Silas Agara, disclosed this yesterday while inspecting the donated items at the office of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) in Lafia.

Speaking shortly after assessing the items before their departure to their points of distribution, the deputy governor said the exercise followed the directive of Governor Al-Makura with a view at cushioning the plight of the displaced persons.

“The governor directed that we provide immediate relief materials to the displaced persons where we have over 15,000 persons displaced. And in fulfilling that, we have provided food items and other supplies worth over N50 million including medical supplies. By the special grace of God, these items will leave immediately to the IDPs in Awe, Azara and Keana,” he said.

The deputy governor continued that the gesture by the state government was the first trench of the exercise, adding that security operatives are on ground to escort the items to their destinations.

“We have T iv leaders, Commissioners and Special Advisers who have been drafted to ensure that these items get to the right place. With the measure put in place, I am very confident that we won’ t have diversion at all ,” Ag ar a maintained.

Reponding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the President of Tiv Development Association (TIDA) in the state, Mr. Boniface Ifer, expressed appreciation to the state government’s prompt intervention and promised judicious use of the items.

Items donated by the state government include 100 bags of rice, 200 tubers of yam, 50 bags of garri, 5,000 pieces of mats, 1,000 pieces of mattresses, 20 bags each of beans and sugar and other essential condiments.

Meanwhile, the senator representing Nasarawa South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Suleiman Adokwe, has condemned in strong terms the recent killings and unwanton destruction of property in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

The federal lawmaker made the condemnation in a statement he issued to journalists in Lafia, just as he expressed worry over the incessant attack by herdsmen in the border communities of Benue and Nasarawa States.