Fulani herdsmen sack Kogi community over killing of cows

isaac

January 12, 2015 11:48 AM

Some Fulani herdsmen have sacked a community on Kogi State over the alleged killing of their cows.

The residents of Miza community in Kupaland, Lokoja local government area of Kogi State, have fled their homes after irate Fulani herdsmen stormed the community and razed it down, in the process inflicting injuries on many. The grouse of the herdsmen was said to be the killing of their cows by some members of the community for destroying their crops.

Though no death was reported in the attack, houses and other valuables running into millions of naira were destroyed while residents were rendered homeless and turned to refugees in their land.

The attack, according to residents, came few days after a peace meeting convened by the state police command between leaders of Miza and Fulani communities.

An indigene of Miza who spoke on the condition of anonymity, lamented that the attack on the community came as a shock to the people of Kupaland, who he said had co-existed peacefully with the Fulanis for decades, declaring that many residents have now fled to Lokoja, Minna and other neighbouring areas.

"We are surprised at the recent attack on our community because it came hours after we had a meeting at the Police headquarters in Lokoja.

The police had appealed to representatives of Kupa and Fulani communities to stop all forms of hostilities and allow peace to prevail in the area. Hours after the peace meeting, the herdsmen struck and ravaged our community."

A source reported that over 1,000 armed Fulani herdsmen stormed the community and burnt down houses as well as properties and the people, not willing and ready to confront the herdsmen, ran for their lives, giving the invaders a field day to run over the town.

The Kogi State Police Commissioner, Paul Okafor, who confirmed that Fulani herdsmen attacked Miza town, said the command had moved in to contain further hostilities in the area.

"There was an attack this morning but there was no casualty recorded. There was an earlier incident where the Fulanis alleged that the Miza people killed their cows and they went and attacked them.

There has been crisis in the area and we have been trying to resolve the situation. We held a meeting with them."

isaac