At least 27 Fulani pastoralists were feared dead following a bomb blast suspected to be an airstrike hit a community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State
The blast was allegedly targeted at suspected bandits who have been terrorizing residents along the border areas linking Nasarawa and Benue states, see graphic photos.
The State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel, verified this in a statement on January 25, 2023, and stated that the tragic incident happened on January 24, 2023, in the Rukubi community of the Doma LGA.
However, he asserted that the state police command is collaborating with other security organizations and the state government to identify the events that led to the blast and apprehend those responsible.
“It is unfortunate that such a thing happened. Twenty-seven of the herdsmen were killed after a bomb exploded in Doma LGA. The police and other security agencies are working round the clock to understand what led to the attack and track down those involved in the act,” he stated.
Reacting to the sad incident, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, vowed to ensure that those behind the killing of the herdsmen are apprehended and made to face the law.
The governor asked all Fulani people in the state to maintain calm adding that, the state administration was collaborating with the Benue State government to offer a long-term solution to the ongoing attacks on the people along the Nasarawa/Benue borders.
He continued by saying that security personnel had been sent to the area to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
“On behalf of the state government, I want to sympathise with the Fulani people across the state over the killings of their people by an unknown bomber. I want to assure them of the state government’s commitment to unravel the perpetrators of such act so as to face the full wrath of the law.” he added.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Doma LGA, Ahmed Sarki-Usman, condemned the attack in its entirety.
“It must be the activity of some bad elements in the area. The act is capable of causing unrest in the LGA but I particularly want to thank the Fulani people for being calm and allowing the government and security agencies to handle the issue. I assure them that we will get to the root of the matter,” he said.
The State Chairman, Miyetti Allah Kautal Horai, Ardo Lawal Dano, expressed shock over the bombing that killed his kinsmen.
He appealed to the federal and state governments to come to their aid in order to arrest those involved in the act, calm the situation, and restore normalcy in the area.
“The Fulani people are law-abiding citizens. We don’t like trouble, so let the government address the situation because we are really pained losing our loved ones,” he added.
Meanwhile, the remains of the victims were buried on Wednesday according to Islamic rites.
