SAN FRANCISCO, February 28, (THEWILL) – The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Sam Zadock, and 13 others, have been killed in violence between herdsmen and farming communities in the state.
Zadock was killed in a fight between Bachama militia and herdsmen in Numan-Demsa areas.
The Adamawa Chapter of the PDP confirmed the killing of its spokesman saying the incident was a big shock to the party.
The State Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Prambe, told newsmen on Wednesday in Yola that “we were expecting him for a meeting yesterday but he didn’t show up; he called me but the network wasn’t good only for us to hear that he was killed in an attack.
“It’s unfortunate that we lost our publicity secretary; it’s a great loss to our party.
“That’s why we kept calling on the government to take steps in solving the lingering crisis plaguing our societies.”
Speaking on the incident, a youth leader in the area, Mr Paul Turaki, said Zadock was killed with four others traveling in the same car in an ambush around Barre village in Demsa Local Government Area.
Also confirming the incident, a Bachama youth leader, Euphraimu Turaki, said “they were on a rescue mission after Fulani herdsmen attacked some villages near Numan adding that they were not aware the “attackers had laid ambush and before you know they opened fire sporadically during which Zadock, and three others were killed instantly.”
Earlier reports indicate that the herdsmen, on a revenge mission on Tuesday, attacked two communities in Numan and Demsa, razing houses and leaving many residents injured and displaced.
But in a swift reaction, soldiers were deployed from 101 Special Forces Battalion and the troops trailed the herdsmen and arrested six of them, while 10 others were shot dead, after “showing resistance,” the Director, Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwu, said.
“Troops deployed in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State swiftly responded to a distress call and supported troops at Gwamba village, which was under attack by herdsmen on Tuesday. Despite the swift reaction to rescue the village from destruction, the notorious herdsmen set the village ablaze before troops could get to the community,” he stated.
“The troops trailed the herdsmen and arrested six of them at Garigiji village while trying to escape. During the process of the arrest, the herdsmen showed resistance, which made the alerted troops to engage them and kill 10 of them.”
According to the army, items recovered from the herdsmen included one AK-47 rifle, 41 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one locally made rifle with 25 cartridges, one cutlass, looted clothes and one motorcycle.
