By Jonathan Ugbal
Unknown gunmen suspected to be of Benue state origin have shot dead a Fulani herdsman, Alhaji Umar Garba in Gakem community of Bekwarra local government area.
The late Garba is said to have been resident in Gakem for over 50 years and was tending to his herd of cattle when two people on a motorcycle approached him and shot him dead.
Gakem, a border community between Cross River and Benue states is over 280 kilometres north of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
“Tomorrow Thursday will make it 2 weeks since they killed my brother” Mallam Adamu Musa, the head of the Fulani Herdsmen told CrossRiverWatch in pidgin.
“They came from Benue state on a motorcycle and they pumped about 50 bullets into his body and killed some cattle too. His body was severed from the number of bullets that were fired” He added.
Also, Mallam Adamu said that the matter has been reported to the Police and relevant authorities.
The Special Assistant to governor Ben Ayade on non indigenes (Muslim), Alhaji Abdukarim Adamu told CrossRiverWatch on phone that the late Garba was buried the same day March 16, 2017 in Ogoja according to Muslim rites.
“He was buried that same day in Ogoja according to Muslim rites and I witnessed the burial” Abdukarim added.
He said no arrest has been made so far and that efforts where been made to get more information regarding the killers.
The Police could not be reached as at press time for comments as calls to the phone lines of the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo did not connect.
But, the Police commissioner in the state, CP Hafiz Inuwa told Journalist in a briefing on Wednesday that a herdsman was killed in a community and efforts were been made to bring the perpetrators to book.
“There was also a complain that in one community where about two or three weeks, some Fulani cattle were killed and the Fulani man was killed. There was apprehension, we went into it, called the two parties, mediated between them and we are still on it in a bid to ensure that those who killed the Fulani do not go unpunished, we are still on it.”
CP Inuwa said the Police will not rest on its oars to tackle issues concerning herdsmen as neither they nor the communities are above the law.