Adamawa: Numan Residents Flee In Droves For Fear Of Reprisal Attacks

Residents of Numan, an Adamawa town, are presently fleeing the community in droves over palpable fear of reprisal attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

Elombah.com had reported recent killings of Fulani herdsmen in the villages of Kikon/Shafuron communities of Numan local government areas.

Dozens of mainly Fulani residents, including children, were killed by an aggressive local militia.

Subsequently, Fulani militants staged a deadly reprisal attack but were halted by security operatives resulting in four mobile policemen feared killed on Friday.

Following the attack, bodies of two police officers declared missing were found dead at a nearby bush.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had dispatched a team of policemen to the area after the initial violence.

The suspected herdsmen were said to be planning a reprisal on Numan communities before Friday’s clash with the security operatives.

Elombah.com gathered that the officers were killed while trying to make arrests at a predominantly Fulani settlement.

The North-East Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Mafindi Umaru Danburam, also told PREMIUM TIMES he had received report that there was problem in Numan “when some people in uniform attacked those that were taking refuge at Dowaya”.

He said two people were shot and that he was trying to get further details.

Another source said those at the gathering were merely “mourning” their slain wives and children when police stormed the area. The “mourners” had relocated from Shafaran, Shawal, Gumara, Kikam and Kadamt, he said.

“Some residents in the area were not comfortable, so they tipped-off and mobile police launched a night operation to arrest the Fulanis and a fightensued during which at least six mobile police were said to have been killed.

“As I am talking to you more security operatives were deployed to Dowaya area including soldiers and they have cordoned-off the village.

‘’There is pandemonium right now in Numan and environs; already residents are fleeing for fear of reprisals,’’ said a vigilante member who asked not to be named, reported PREMIUM TIMES.

Another local said: ‘’Just last night we got distress call that some people in security uniform stormed on them and had shot two youths, so definitely in this kind of situation anything could happen.

‘’And that’s the situation for now, even we at the neighbouring villages are not safe, and many had fled,’’ he said.

Presently, both residents and locals are vacating the areas as tension soars high.

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