No fewer than three people including a 90-year-old man were burnt to death by suspected bandits who attacked Pobawure and Amtawalam communities in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe state.
The attackers sneaked into the two communities on Thursday night, December 8, while residents were asleep, setting houses and food storage on fire.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Oqua Etim, who confirmed the death of the nonegarian to journalists, said two other persons were also savagely matcheted and killed in the attack targeted at economic resources of the communities while three others sustained various degrees of injuries.
It was gathered that the attack was the third in a series of attacks being unleashed by the suspected bandits in the area.
According to the district head of the community Ahmed Zubairu, similar attacks were reported on 22nd November and two days after the attack which left two dead, the neighboring community was also attacked.
“The attacks have nothing to do with farmers and herders clash or community clash,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, who visited the communities to commiserate and assess the level of destruction that was left by the attackers, directed the state of Nigeria Police and other security agencies in the state to ensure that peace and security are restored to the communities.
The Governor also ordered the police commissioner in charge of the state command to move into the area and establish a police outpost and ensure constant surveillance of the area.
“Deploy as many men as possible to work with the community members to ensure peace and security, we have to improve and strengthen our community policing, because it is only when we work with the community that we will achieve one goal and better results,” the Governor said.
He equally directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide immediate support and intervention which includes drugs, shelter, food and other essential commodities that are needed in the communities.
The Governor called on the community members to be vigilant and report all suspected moves by an individual or any group.
Meanwhile, CP Oqua Etim assured the affected communities that the command is on top of the matter and that they will not relent until perpetrators of the acts are tracked down and brought to justice.
The CP further appealed for calm and urged them not to take laws into their hands as the Police Tactical Teams in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilantes have cordoned the area.
He assured that effort is being made to set up an outpost as directed by the state governor and unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
