Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen allegedly killed two persons on Sunday, while six others were injured as attacked two villages, Shaforon and Kodumti, in Numan local government area of Adamawa State.
This came as the Nigerian Army said Sunday that some Boko Haram terrorists were currently seeking refuge in the homes of some individuals in parts of Borno and Yobe states.
An eyewitness, Lawrence Shinkoko, told newsmen that the suspected herdsmen in their large numbers, laid siege on the two villages around 1:00 a.m Sunday, shooting at any person in sight.
It was learned that two died in the shootout, as several others, including a soldier, sustained injuries.
The Principal Medical Officer of Numan General Hospital, Dr. Nuhu Tari, where the injured are receiving treatment confirmed the incident.
Spokesman of the state police command, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, who also confirmed the attack, said the attackers were cattle rustlers.
“One of the attackers was killed in the crossfire with security operatives and his corpse has been deposited at the Numan General Hospital mortuary.
“The CP has dispatched additional operatives to join other security agencies to comb the bushes in the area and arrest the fleeing cattle rustlers,” he said.
Reacting to the attack, Muhammad Buba, the state spokesperson of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, said: “We are not aware of any attack in Numan areas, but we will check who made the attack to ascertain the truth of the said attack.”
Meanwhile, Army has said that some Boko Haram terrorists were currently seeking refuge in the homes of some individuals in parts of Borno and Yobe states.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Colonel Ado Isa, the Acting Director Army Public Relations Operation Lafiya Dole, the development is a result of the military’s unrelenting onslaught on the BHT/ISWAP hideouts along the Lake Chad region and Northern Borno.
The command said it received information that the fleeing criminals were seeking refuge in homes of “some unscrupulous individuals.”
“These fugitives have been escaping and taking refuge in the residence of some persons in Maiduguri, Damboa, Gajiram, Monguno, Damasak, Biu, Gwoza Dikwa, Benisheikh, Ngamdu, Bama, Gamboru, Konduga, Gajigana and other smaller towns all in Borno State.
Others have also run to Damaturu, Gujba, Buni Yadi, Buni Gari, Gashua, Kanamma, Yususufari, Goniri and Kukareta towns in Yobe State, among others,” the statement read.
Asking those harbouring the criminals to report them to the Army, Col. Isa said: “While we are making concerted efforts to trace and fish out the fleeing criminals, it is important to inform and warn all those harbouring the fleeing fugitives to report or hand them to the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole immediately.
“Failure to do that would attract severe consequences. The Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, wishes to enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians, especially those residing in aforementioned areas, to report any suspicious and strange faces in their communities.”
