Over 70 Fulani mercenaries invade Nasarawa community, killed two sons of the traditional ruler

Over 70 Fulani  mercenaries, yesterday, invaded Kofar Gwari in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killed two sons of the traditional ruler of the community and that of Sabo Gida and injured two, including a drug seller.
Investigation by Vanguard in Lafia indicated that the incident happened when some members of the vigilante groups in the area were having their meeting on how to address the spate of killings and kidnapping in their area.
As the meeting progressed, the mercenaries attacked them, killing one Yawel Oshawu, the son of the Mai Angwa of Kofan Gwari, a Gwandara by tribe, and Idi Ibrahim, the son to Mai Angwa Sabi.
Among those injured were Sofiyanu Maidoki, a Mada by tribe, and Nura Sani, grandson to Mai Angwan Sabo.
According to an eyewitness, who would not want his name mentioned, the two people killed bring the number of those killed at Kofan Gwari to 12 in one month.
Vanguard further learned that the two persons killed were members of the vigilante group.
The witness said the mercenaries had earlier invaded the village and embarked on a four-hour operations, which left many homes and individuals robbed of their property.
They were said to have made away with over N400,000 and valuables.
Among the persons robbed was an ECWA church pastor of Kofan Gwari.
A source said: “We cannot go to our farms any longer to harvest our crops because of fear of being attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who have been grazing on our farmland.”
The community has been deserted for fear of further attack by the mercenaries.
Police story
However, Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, ASP Ismaila Numan, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Lafia, the state capital, said members of the vigilante groups in Kokona Local Government Area were having their meeting when unknown gunmen, who were fully armed, came from nowhere, stared shooting sporadically into the air and killed two vigilante group member.
He said: “The command received a report that the members of the vigilante groups were having their meeting when unknown gunmen came from nowhere and started shooting sporadically into the air and killed two members of the groups on the spot.”
He added that the two members of the vigilante group who were killed were handed over to their families for burial.