Breaking: Gunmen kill Miyyetti Allah’s head, others in Abuja, Plateau attacks

Gunmen have shot dead the Chairman of the Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja, Adamu Aliyu.

Aliyu was said to have been killed along with four others near Daku village in Dobi Ward during an attack on the council.

On Sunday, another group of gunmen also attacked villages of the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, where they reportedly killed many and set houses ablaze.

Secretary of MACBAN, Mohammed Usman, who confirmed the Abuja incident on Sunday, said three persons were abducted, while three others who sustained gun shot wounds were receiving treatment at the University of Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada.

He said the incident happened last Thursday, around 5pm, when the late MACBAN chairman alongside others were retuning from Izom market in Niger state in Dyna truck, while the bandits suddenly emerged from the bush and opened fire on the truck.

According to him, the bandits shattered the windscreen of the truck, which was conveying the MACBAN leaders and some passengers.

“They were retuning from Izom market in Niger state where they went to sell cows, until just one kilometer to Daku village when the bandits suddenly emerged from the bush and opened fire on the truck, killing the MACBAN chairman and four others,” he said.

He gave the names of those killed as Saleh, Aliyu, Muhammadu and Saidu, saying the deceased’s corpses had been buried according to Islamic rites.

A combined security agents comprising soldiers, civil defence corps, mobile police and vigilante led by the Gwagwalada police area commander were said to be at Daku village, before the remains of the deceased were buried.

Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Adamu Mustapha, also confirmed the incident Daily Trust on Sunday on the telephone.

Gunmen also attacked villages of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, throwing residents of the affected villages into confusion on Sunday.

According to the residents of the affected areas, the bandits attacked Kukawa, Gyanbahu, Dungur and Keram villages where a score of people were killed.

Adam Musa, a resident of Kukawa village, who confirmed the incident, said that many people were injured, while hundreds of people fled their homes, adding that security personnel were yet to reach the villages as of 2pm.

Musa said the gunmen in separate attacks invaded the villages at about 11am and started shooting sporadically.

He said the bandits who were still operating as of 2pm had burnt down many houses.

Spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Ubah Gabriel, promised to get back to journalists on the incident when contacted.