2 feared dead, 56 cattle shot in Nasarawa

AT least no fewer than two Fulani herdsmen and 56 cattle were allegedly shot dead by soldiers who were posted to Agwada Development Area of Nasarawa State to control the crisis-prone areas in the state.
According to an eyewitness, Alhaji Haruna Joli, the soldiers, who were on patrol in the area, were drunk when they shot sporadically at the Fulani herdsmen.
Alhaji Joli called on the Federal and state government to intervene in the matter, adding that a lot of innocent Fulanis were killed by the soldiers with impunity.
Investigation by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that the corpses were brought by the DPO (name  withheld) in the area to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, but the relations of the diseased said Islam did not permit Muslim bodies to be kept beyond 24 hours before the burial.
Alhaji Joli, who gave the name of a victim as Haruna Joli, said that they were on their way to Agwada while the soldiers stopped them at a military checkpoint.
He further alleged that “after they finished their search, all of a sudden they just started shooting at them without finding any exhibit on them.”
Reacting to the incident, the state secretary of Miyyeti Allah, Alhaji Muhammed Hussain, alleged that the government of Nasarawa State was reluctant managing the crisis in the state.
Hussaini, however, alleged that even for once the state governor had not visited any of the Fulani areas like he did to others who were affected by the crisis, accusing the state of being biased.
He further appealed to the state government to, as a matter of urgency, look into their plights and assist the affected Fulanis in order to have lasting solution to the crisis.
When contacted, Nasarawa State police command, through the spokesman of the command, Mr Micheal Ada, said it was not aware of the incident.
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