About 20 people were killed and over 70

houses were burnt by

gunmen suspected to be Fulani

attackers on Friday night in Arikya and
Anshangwa villages in Lafia Local
Government Area of Nasarawa State.
According to the Punch, many residents
were displaced in the attack which occurred
around 11 pm.
The incident took place barely six days
after Fulani invaders, numbering over 200,
raided Gidan Gambo, 30 kilometres away
from Lafia, the state capital, killing 10
people, razing over 50 houses and leaving
hundreds displaced.
One of the insurgents, Abdullahi Buldi, who
was captured by the youths during the
attack on Gidan Gambo, said that they were
hired to attack Eggon communities in the
state.
The Punch’s source, who did want his name
in print, said the attack at Arikya and
Ashangwa was a reaction to the capture of
Buldi by Eggon youths.
An eyewitness of the incident, Alaku
Alumbugu, who escaped to Lafia, said the
Fulani attackers shot sporadically in all
directions.
“As I speak to you I don’t know the
whereabouts of my family members. The
attackers were too many and they were
shooting in all directions. I took to my
heels,” the eyewitness said.
Reportedly one of the correspondents saw
some of the displaced persons taking
refuge at the headquarters of Eggon Local
Government Area of the state with their
bags and other valuables on their heads.
Some had their babies strapped to their
back.
However, according to the Police Public
Relations Officer of Nasarawa State
Command, Ismaila Numan, who confirmed
the incident in a telephone interview,
stated that there was no casualty and that
few houses were burnt.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police
added that security personnel had been
deployed in the area to restore peace and
order