Gun-wielding herdsmen on Tuesday attacked Gwamba community in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, razing houses and leaving many residents injured and displaced.
The Nigerian Army, which confirmed the invasion, said that despite the deployment of troops in the community, the “notorious herdsmen set the village ablaze and fled.”
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, added that the troops trailed the herdsmen and arrested six of them, while 10 others were shot dead, after “showing resistance.”
Our correspondent learnt that the herdsmen razed many houses, forcing residents of the community to flee from their homes into the bush.
Our correspondent gathered that the troops were deployed from 101 Special Forces Battalion who were on the ongoing army exercise, Ayem Akpatuma, (Cat Race).
According to the army, items recovered from the herdsmen included one AK-47 rifle, 41 rounds of 7.62mm special, one locally made rifle with 25 cartridges, one cutlass, looted clothes and one motorcycle.
The army spokesperson said the herdsmen resisted the troops, who were forced to kill 10 of them.
He said, “Troops deployed in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State swiftly responded to a distress call and supported troops at Gwamba village, which was under attack by herdsmen on Tuesday. Despite the swift reaction to rescue the village from destruction, the notorious herdsmen set the village ablaze before troops could get to the community.
“The troops trailed the herdsmen and arrested six of them at Garigiji village while trying to escape. During the process of the arrest, the herdsmen showed resistance, which made the alerted troops to engage them and kill 10 of them.
“Items recovered from the herdsmen are; one AK 47 rifle, 41 rounds of 7.62mm special, one locally-made rifle with 25 cartridges, one cutlass, looted clothes and one motorcycle.”
Meanwhile, the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East, has said troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists in a joint operation with the defence forces from Cameroon.
It was learnt that in the operation which took place at villages along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, the troops rescued 603 civilians held hostage and conveyed them to Bama and Pulka towns.
According to the army, troops also cleared another two villages – Miyanti and Wudila – where three men, 121 women and 209 children held captive by the insurgents were freed.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, and Theatre Command’s spokesperson, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops recovered a large cache of ammunition.
Nwachukwu said, “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the ongoing Operation Deep Punch II along with the Cameroon Defence Forces on Monday cleared the Boko Haram hideouts in Kusha-Kucha, Surdewala, Alkanerik, Magdewerne and Mayen villages, all along the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
source: http://punchng.com/herdsmen-raze-adamawa-village-army-kills-10-fleeing-attackers/
