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At least three persons have been killed, with many others injured, following an attack by armed men on Bandawa, an agrarian community in the Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba state.
it was learnt that trouble started when the bandits, in their number, reportedly attacked and killed a farmer who confronted them over the presence of their cattle on his farm.
A few days after, another farmer riding on his motorcycle was said to have been ambushed and killed, while women and children moved out of the community for safety were involved in a boat mishap, leading to the death of a lady.
Narrating the incident to Channel Television, the National President, Bandawa Community Development Association, Mathias Manyi, described the incident as barbaric and unfortunate.
He said the villagers had lived peacefully over the years with the herders and wondered why the community was attacked.
The district head of Bandawa community, Yushau Sharia, said he had asked that the women and children be sent out of the community for safety and instructed that no one should be allowed to go into the domains of the herders for reprisals.
He urged the security agencies to station their men within the community to avert further attacks.
While appreciating the military for acting swiftly, the district head revealed that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons.
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”I am appealing to the state government to step in and assist us, just as the brigade commander has deployed some soldiers. We want the police and other sister security agencies to do the same to restore peace in our communities. What has happened is indeed a sad event for us, and we need peace”
”Behind my house is a large expanse of land where farmers from Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Yobe, and Lagos come yearly.”
However, the Nigerian Army has said that it would not spare anyone involved in the attack.
Speaking during a visit to the community, the Commander, 6 Brigade, who doubles as the Commander, Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, for a first-hand assessment of the incident, said ”Anyone involved in the killings in Bandawa community will not go free. I am here to sympathise with you and tell you that this will not slide.
“I have reinforced the troops on the ground to make sure that such does not repeat itself. Expect a conclusive, discreet, and comprehensive investigation that will unearth the rationale behind this and as well curtail future occurrences. It is our responsibility to safeguard lives and property and I won’t be here to tolerate such.”
The Bandawa community is known for the cultivation of crops in commercial quantities by farmers from across the country.
