Suspected herdsmen in Yobe burn down houses during retaliation attack
Story from Ibraheem EL-TAFSEER, Damaturu
An unspecified number of houses among other valuables were burnt down in two communities of Guruje and Malari in Fika LGA of Yobe State when suspected herdsmen invaded the communities late Monday evening and set them ablaze in a reprisal attack.
It was gathered that the rampaging Fulani herders invaded the two villages following an alleged resistance of attack by the communities when their watermelon farms were encroached on by herds of cattle belonging to the Fulani herders earlier on.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, revealed that the invading herdsmen stormed the communities on motorcycles with most of them carrying bows and arrows as well as machetes.
While it was yet to be ascertained the number of casualties, the invading herdsmen succeeded in burning down several houses and other items particularly food items in the areas.
Account of the development from sources has it that the initial altercation between the herdsmen and farmers within the communities took place in January 2024 when the herds of cattle destroyed the watermelon farms.
It was learnt that the herdsmen who claimed that some of their cattle were rustled by the farmers, vowed to teach the communities the lessons by retaliation.
As of the time of filing this report, no arrest has been made and the distraught farmers are counting their losses.
Meanwhile, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has commiserated with the people of Guruje over the attack on the community by the intruders.
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The Governor said that the upscaling of security measures in the area is already yielding positive results.
“The government in collaboration with security agencies and vigilante groups, has taken more measures to ensure peace and security in the area.”
Buni assured that no energy will be spared in pursuing the intruders stressing that, “they will be pursued and defeated by the grace of God.”
The Governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to the victims of the attack.
