Nigerian Military Investigates Nasarawa Fulani Killings

The Nigeria military on Thursday said it was investigating the alleged attack by soldiers on Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

According to residents, the soldiers had stormed Fulani settlements about a kilometre away from Keana Town in the early hours of Thursday in a convoy, killing about 30 Fulani.

Most of the deceased were said to be over 70-year-olds who were not fast enough to flee the rampage.
The director, Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday evening, that the army was investigating the incident.

“We are investigating the killings. We are not sure if these are real soldiers. That place is known to be flooded with all kinds of characters but we are investigating to confirm if soldiers were involved,” Mr. Olukolade said.

The Nigeria military, in an earlier statement on Thursday, said it destroyed militant camps in various states in the North Central part of the country. The raids were part of its Operation Restore Peace in the North central region of Nigeria. The statement, however, did not mention an attack or raid in the Keana area.

Mr. Olukolade explained that the Operation Restore Peace was aimed at addressing the deteriorating security situation in parts of North Central Nigeria.

He disclosed that troops deployed in Benue State had already cleared camps in three local government areas, Guma, Gwer West and Agatu, restoring calm to the areas.

He said that arms were recovered in Shendam area of Plateau State, while some arrests were made, and two AK 47 rifles recovered, after an encounter between troops of the Special Task Force, STF, and some armed gangs in Shimanker, Plateau State.

Mr. Olukolade said that in Kaduna State, a militant camp in Ladduga, near Kachia was destroyed, while arms were also recovered in Maigungume Hills of Niger State.

He stated that the General Officers Commanding, GOCs, were directly supervising operations in their various zones in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger States.
In the last few months, there have been violent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the North Central Region of Nigeria, leading to several mass deaths, destroyed property worth millions and displaced persons within the region, especially in Benue State.

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