Fourteen people, including the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Adamawa State have been killed in fresh violence in Adamawa.
The party on Wednesday confirmed the killing of its spokesman, Sam Zadock, saying he was among those killed in a clash between Bachama militia and herdsmen in Numan-Demsa areas.
“It’s unfortunate that we lost our publicity secretary; it’s a great loss to our party,” Abdullahi Prembe, party secretary, said.
“That’s why we kept calling on the government to take steps in solving the lingering crisis plaguing our societies.”
Also confirming the incident, a Bachama youth leader, Euphraimu Turaki, said “they were on a rescue mission after Fulani herdsmen attacked some villages near Numan.”
According to him the attackers took them unawares and opened fire on them, killing Mr Zadock and three others on the spot.
Earlier reports indicates the herdsmen, in a revenge mission on Tuesday, attacked two communities in Numan and Demsa, razing houses and leaving many residents injured and displaced.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwu soldiers were deployed and the troops trailed the herdsmen and arrested six of them, while 10 others were shot dead.
“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,” he said.
According to the army, items recovered from the herdsmen included one AK-47 rifle, 41 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one locally made rifle with 25 cartridges, one cutlass, looted clothes and one motorcycle.
