Herders/Farmers feud: Police DPO, others killed in Adamawa
By; Tina Phineas, Yola.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Vunokilang Police Station in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State and 29 others were brutally killed in an early morning attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen over the weekend.
Reports from the area revealed that the suspected Fulani herdsmen raided four villages namely; Demsare, Wunamokoh, Dikajam and Taboungo in what was believed to be a vengeance mission over a prolong feud between farmers and cattle rearers in the area.
The DPO, late CSP Okozie Okereofor, who was just two months old in the command was said to be ambushed when he was leading his men to the disputed area and he eventually lost his life.
The corpse of the slained Police Officer and remaining civilians are
currently deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.
Confirming the killings, spokesman of the Adamawa State Police
Command, DSP Othman Abubakar said the DPO and his team were attacked while on official duty in the affected villages where he was killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Abubakar added that report at his disposal indicated that the
attackers looted the food stuff and livestocks of the villagers before
setting the villages ablaze.
“The suspected Fulani herdsmen raided four villages in Girei local
Government area on Sunday morning around 5:30 am killing scores including the late DPO”. Abubakar stressed.
When journalist visited Federal Medical Centre Yola, we met some of the victims who were receiving treatment, but the Nurse on Duty said that the management of the Hospital issued a directive that no journalist should be allowed in.
Commenting on the attack, the Acting Brigade Commander of the 23 Armored Bridgade, Yola, Col. A.B.A Poopola, confirmed the attack, stressing that the Fulani herdsmen had prolong crises with the affected areas.
He said everything was under control as he has deployed his men to the areas to maintain law and order.
