Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Sunday attacked villagers in the Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing the Divisional Police Officer of Vunokilang Police Station, Mr Okozie Okereofor along with 60 other villagers.
The gunmen invaded four communities on Sunday at about 5:30am in the morning killing Okereofor and some attached policemen including a Chief Superintendent of Police.
Two other riot policemen who were responding to a distress call to contain the violence in Gerei also met with their death in Mimbia, a border village between Plateau and Kaduna States in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen.
The late Divisional Police Officer, Okozie Okereofor was said to have just been transferred from Okigwe in Imo state to Adamawa about two months ago. The DPO was said to have along with his team fell into an ambush on their way to containing the violence in the distressed communities.
Sources confirm that the bodies of the deceased DPO an other policemen who fell in the line of duty have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola morgue.
Mr. Othman Abubakar, the Adamawa Police Command Public Relations Officer confirmed the killing of the DPO and his team adding that the attackers looted, seized foodstuffs and livestock of the villagers before setting the village ablaze.
News sources gathered that the attack was perpetrated by more than 200 gunmen who invaded Demsare, Wunamokoh, Dikajam, Taboungo and some parts of Fawore leaving blood spill of villagers in its wake.
Col. A. B. Popoola, Acting Brigade Commander of the 23 Amoured Brigade, Yola has said the situation had been contained while soldiers were helping the police force maintain law and order in the affected communities.
Mr. P. P. Elisha, a Community leader told news source that most of the Fulani Herdsmen and their families residing in the four affected communities recently relocated to Yola adding that he reported strange movements to the police and the district head of Girei on Saturday night.
Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, Media officer of the Special Task Force also known as Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State confirmed the killing of the two riot policemen. He continued that “The incident happened in Mimbia, which is a border village between Plateau and Kaduna states. When we heard the information, we responded immediately by ensuring that there was no spillover into Plateau”, “The two policemen have been identified and taken to Kaduna by the troops.”
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