Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have killed five persons in Gidan Sule village, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

President of Tiv Development Association in the State, Comrade Peter Ahemba, confirmed the incident in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital on Thursday, July 22. 

He stated that the gunmen stormed the village and attacked the people while the victims were sleeping and murdered no fewer than four of them instantly while the fifth person died after being taken to the hospital.

“Five persons were lost in Gidan Sule village in Keana LGA due to the attack by suspected Fulani herders on Wednesday night. Four out of the five persons were instantly murdered but one of them who we thought would survive the attack, later died in the hospital,’ he stated. 

“Tiv people in Nasarawa State are peace-loving people. There was no misunderstanding between my tribesmen and the suspected Fulani herders in the community so I wonder why the attack was carried out,” 

He, however, urged Tiv people in the community to remain calm as he was working with security agencies to restore normalcy in the community.

While confirming the incident in a statement, spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Ramhan Nansel, explained that upon receipt of the information, a detachment of Police personnel consisting of Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Vigilante and Hunters with support from the Military were drafted to the area.

“On 21/7/2021, at about 2300hrs, information was received that unknown gunmen while shooting sporadically, attacked a particular compound at Gidan Sule Village along Lafia- Makurdi road,” the statement read.

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“Four corpses were recovered at the scene while three injured victims were rescued and rushed to Odumu hospital for medical attention; one person later died while receiving treatment at the same hospital.”

He admonished members of the public to always feed the command with useful information that will aid the police to protect the people better.

The PPRO promised that the gunmen who killed the villagers would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

However, one Mary Jane Ikyombe, said her uncle, his two wives and four children were killed in the attack which occurred on Wednesday night, July 21.