83 cattle, 20 persons killed in Nasarawa gun attacks

No fewer than 20 persons have been killed in Loko, Nasarawa State over the past few weeks.

According to the traditional ruler of Loko, the killings resulted from reprisal attacks from suspected Agatu youths from Benue State.

Over the weekend, suspected Agatu youths also killed 83 cattle  at Adayi in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

Both the Fulani leader of Adayi area of Loko, Mallam Bideri Ahmadu and the monarch of Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo suspect that Agatu youths were responsible for the killings.

Mallam Bideri Ahmadu told  newsmen in Loko that Agatu youths crossed over from Benue State about 10:30am last Saturday to perpetrate the latest attacks.

Ahmadu alleged that Agatu youths had wanted to rustle some cattle across River Benue, "but the cattle went berserk because of sporadic shootings.

“Upon realising they could not achieve their aim, the Agatu youths opened fire on the cows, killing 83. The injured ones are in the bush," he said.

Confirming the attacks, the spokesman of Nasarawa State Police Command, Ismaila Numan said his men were investigating the killings of 83 cattle by suspected hoodlums.

He added that there has been tension in the area since the massacre of 300 persons in Agatu by suspected Fulani herdsmen.