Fulani Herdsmen Strike Again In Kaduna, Sack 8 Villages

Three days after two men were killed in Golkofa village, Godogodo District, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State by alleged armed herdsmen, another man was killed in the same village, yesterday, said a local source.

The fresh killing was also confirmed by the police. The killings in Godogodo chiefdom in recent time have created a refugee situation in adjoining towns as no fewer than eighth villages have deserted their abodes for safer places.

Speaking to Vanguard Newspaper correspondent on the development, a youth leader said that the herdsmen had taken over Golkofa after the villagers fled due to the siege.

He said: “After the killing of my uncle and another youth last Thursday, our chief said that we should all move out, since we do not know the extent of the next killings, considering what had happened to other villages.

“So everybody left. I moved to Gidan Waya with my family and many others are also here with us. This morning (yesterday), Mr. Audu Avegbak, 54, a father of 10, left Gidan Waya to take feeds to his animals that he left behind.

“The herdsmen were waiting for him. As soon as he came into his compound, they opened fire on him and killed him instantly.

“We got to know this through the Hausa people, who escorted him to the village. Though the Hausa left with us to Gidan Waya, the herdsmen always allowed them to come and do their farm works and tend their animals.

“It is the same in all the other villages that left. Everything we know going on in our villages are through our Hausa people.

“After killing Avegbak, who was the Headmaster of Dangwa Primary School, the police came in. They engaged the herdsmen in a gun battle. But they escaped. None of them was apprehended.”

Kaduna State Police spokesman, Mr. Aliyu Usman, confirmed the murder.

Usman said: “The victim went to feed his animals and the gunmen killed him, but our men went after them. He was actually killed in the bush, not in the village.

” Sources said residents of eight villages have fled the district to Godogodo, Gidan Waya, Kafanchan, Jos or other places. The affected villages are Ninte, Unguwan Anjo, Akwa’a, Gada Biyu, Andaha, Farin Ruwa and Ampany.