03/10/2020 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – On Thursday, March 5, 2020, at about 2:00 a.m., armed Fulani militants attacked Lawe village, near the border of Adamawa-Taraba States, in Bolki ward of Numan Local Council area. The militants broke into homes and shot at whoever they found. Five people suffered severe gunshot wounds and are now in the hospital. No homes or properties were damaged during this attack, and no reports have risen of supplies or food being stolen.
Narrating, Solomon Penuel, whose son was among the injured victims, said: “It happened around 2:00 a.m. when we were all fast asleep. They descended on us and started firing gunshots. My son, Nabizaga Penuel, age 25, was sleeping in his room and because of the hot weather, he left the windows open. The bullets hit him in four places – in his head, his shoulder his thigh and his groin. Mayakan Myazana, age 25, the bullet penetrated his stomach through to his back, and a bullet also injured in knee and damaged the main muscle of his right foot. The third person, Iliya Friday, age 30, was hit by bullet on his buttocks (bullet still inside) and badly bruised his knee when he desperately crawled to escape.” The other two individuals were not named during this interview.
These three injured individuals were admitted to the Numan General Hospital. Nabizaga and Mayakan are students in Secondary (High) School, while Iliya is a farmer, married with two children. A few days later, they were transferred to the Federal Medical Centre Yola, for further specialist treatment/care. Solomon also said there was a fourth injured person, a lady, who fell and fractured both hands while fleeing. She is being treated at a bone-fracture clinic elsewhere. All the injured persons are members of the Lutheran Church of Christ Nigeria (LCCN).
Though no groups have claimed responsibility for the attack, it is common for these types of attacks to be used as a way to force villagers off of their land. Many villages in Numan area have faced constant attack. Even after villager flee and then return to their homes, they are re-attacked. This attack is similar to one that took place just three weeks ago in Bang village of Numan, where villagers who had been displaced for two years returned to their homes for the first time. One was then killed and another slashed with machetes. Please pray for those who are suffering attacks for no reason in Nigeria.
For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].
