Seven persons allegedly killed, scores injured over drinking water, lands seizure in Nasarawa

By David Okpashi

Not less than seven persons are said to have been killed in Giza Chieftain and kardarko in Keana Local government area of Nasarawa over drinking water and land seizure in the local government areas of the state.

Trouble over the only stream providing water for the community started on Friday when some Tiv people went fishing in the stream which turned the stream as the only source of water unfit for human consumption.

An eyewitness account told our correspondent that trouble ensued when a Fulani man went to the stream in search of water only to discover that the only stream servicing the community as it’s sources of drinking water was turned into a mud as a result of the fishing expeditions by the Tiv people.

According to an eye witness account, a Tiv man was provoked when the Fulani seek to know why they were fishing and rendering the only sources of water source unhealthy, raised a matchet and gave the Fulani man a court on the neck leading to the death of the Fulani man.

Our correspondent gather that noticing what has happened, the Fulanis mobilized and launched a reprisal attack leading to the killing of two Tiv in the area.

Speaking on the issue in Giza, an eye witness, Mathias Ahule, explained that troubled ensured between Fulani and Tiv people in the stream over water contest after which some Fulani men allegedly stormed Tse Ambir and killed a pastor James Iorluun as well as John Gbawuan, leaving many others injured with 3 motorcycles taken away.

Ahule further alleged that the angry Fulanis later blocked the Giza Ajo road in the area and killed another pastor Iorshase, of Assembly of God church Aloshi who was billed to hold a crusade in the area and injured many others.

Ahule, therefore called on the Nasarawa state Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule to direct security operatives in the state to arrest one Hassan Abubakar, a Fulani man from Giza district who is said to have confessed to the killings.

He also urged the state government to invite the Giza traditional institutions for more details.

“The Fulani militants are planning to attack Tse Kwaghamor and TSE Akula all in Giza districts of Keana local government area” Ahule alleges.

It was further gathered that the incident has prompted an emergency meeting at the instance of the Sengari Giza, Alhaji Umaru Elegu.

The traditional ruler who is said to have condemned the killings within his domain called on both parties to embrace peace for development to stive in the area.

Meanwhile, in Kadarko chiefdom, Keana LGA of the state 3 persons said to be of Eggon estraction have been killed over farm land along Benue boarder which has been under disputes according to one of the locals,

A resident of Kadarko, William Audu alleged that the killings was not unconnected with the land seizure by the Osukadoko of Kadarko chiefdom, Umar Usman Dodo adding that a meeting have been held with another one rescheduled for Tuesday next week only for some persons to take themselves to the disputed land.

One of the community leaders who spoke on account of anamity alleged that the traditional ruler in charge of the areas was responsible for the crisis over land in kadarko th

He therefore called the state government, security operatives in the state to invite the traditional ruler for details of the Kadarko killing to avoid further escalation of the crisis in the area.

Several attempts to get the reaction of the police in the state could not yield positive results as calls and text messages to the public Relations Officer of the police Command, DSP, Ranham Nansel we’re not responded to at the time of filling this report.