4 persons injured in attack on rural community

The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed that four persons were injured in an attack on residents of Kinafa, a rural Community in Yemaltu/Deba Local Government Area.

Its Public Relations Officer, Mr Fwaji Atajiri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Sunday that no one was killed in the attack suspected to be carried out by youths from a neigbouring village.

``Four people were injured in the attack that occurred on Saturday; no one was killed; but we are already investigating the matter,'' he said.

The official said that normalcy had returned to the area, adding that policemen were patrolling the villages, while residents were going on with their normal businesses.

``When we are through with investigation, we will let you know,'' he told NAN.

Alhaji Haruna Samanja, the Chairman of the Local Government, who also confirmed the incident, said that he had reported it to the police ``immediately I heard it''.

Samanja, said however, that he met 11 persons being treated of wounds from the attack, when he visited the specialist hospital in Gombe.

``The wounded persons included the District Head of Kinafa, Malam Musa Inuwa; two victims were referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, because their situation was bad and they needed some surgery,'' he explained.

He said he had visited the two communities to speak with them on the need for peaceful co-existence, and warned that anyone found culpable would face the law.

The chairman attributed the violence to clashes over farmlands for irrigation purpose.

The District Head of Kinafa told NAN that the attackers met him at the farm.

``They beat me up and used different weapons in attacking me,'' he said.