ICC Note
In separate attacks, suspected Fulani Militants attacks Christian villages in Benue and Adamawa States, claiming 9 lives and burning down many of the houses. The attack in Benue took place on Christmas Eve while Christians were celebrating the holiday. The second attack took place on Christmas Day in Adamawa while the civilians were celebrating the day. Due to these attacks and others like them, Nigerian troops have been dispatched to these locations for security. We pray for the safety of all Nigerian Christians as they finish the Christmas season, and for those who have been hurt by these attacks.
2017-12-27 Nigeria (TheGuardian) Suspected gunmen have killed five persons and injured five others at Utonkon community in Ado Local Council of Benue State.
The Guardian learnt that apart from the five deaths, many others have also been declared missing as a result of the attack which took place when the council chairman was distributing Christmas gift items to politicians and other stakeholders in the area on Christmas Eve.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the attack, said three persons died and five others were seriously injured.
Yamu said the attack was carried out by yet-to-be-identified two gunmen who stormed the village on motorbikes, adding that an investigation into the matter had commenced and more policemen had been drafted to the area.
The Chairman of the council, Mrs. Blessing Unogwu, who condemned the incident, stated that the local government protocol officer and four other members of staff ran into them but escaped unhurt.
“The incident occurred at a time my protocol officer and four other persons were in the community with some goats sent to me by His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom, to distribute to stakeholders in the area. They were distributing the items when the armed men came on bikes and began to shoot sporadically,” he said.
Similarly, four people were killed and hundreds of houses razed by suspected Fulani herdsmen during Christmas celebrations in Kamale, Michika Local Council of Adamawa State.
The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Uthman Abubakar, said: “I learnt that something like that happened in Kamale town but I am still waiting for Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Michika Local Council to give me the details. When he gives me the details, I will contact you.”
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