Attack resumes in Gombe Communities, more buildings razed
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
No fewer than 50 houses have been burnt, and farm produce moved in a renewed communal clash in Nyuwar, Jessu communities in Gombe, on Sunday.
Recall that 19 lives were reportedly slaughtered with hundreds of houses earlier demolished by yet to be identified Gunmen in the Waja/Lunguda communal clash.
An eyewitness Ily Maisanda, told our correspondent, that due to the perceived silence in the village, since residents had gone to Yolde for safety the gunmen used the opportunity to launch a renewed attack on Nyuwar.
Maisanda said, “The villagers can see the fire from Yolde. Some of them (attackers) were caught in Cham after looting grains from empty houses to go and sell or keep it elsewhere. The owners tracked them from Nyuwar all the way to Cham.”
He added, “Meanwhile there is no help coming from Government; they have only been talking, it all hot air. Residents have been stopped from going there but they could see the fire from the burning.”
Another resident who identified himself as Musa James said, “It was an unrestful night for us, because some part of Nyuwar-Sakku Luko, some houses belonging to Lunguda were burnt down again.
Also, Dennis Kujir lamented what he termed worst of the attack, adding that the Gunmen visited the villages on Saturday and early hours of Sunday.
He said, “Today’s (Sunday) attack is far worst than Monday’s attack. As they were stopped by soldiers from unleashing further harm. They retreated only to come in large number more than they ever came earlier. The number of causality can not be ascertained now as we ran for our own safety, Saturday and Sunday attacks have been terrible.”
However, Commissioner of Police Ishola Babaita, when contacted confirmed the attack, adding that his men were able to stop more destruction.
Babaita said, “With the aid of security agencies, we were able to repel the attack.
The commissioner who declined comment on the number of causality added that the command did not arrest the latest attackers, saying “No, arrest was made (yesterday) apart from the other one (initial attack).
