“Two days before, the Fulanis had visited Ngban and shot sporadically, chasing people away from their farms. We thought that the intimidation was over but they came again, killing three people this time,” the Nigerian Priest said.
He added, “It is clear that this community is targeted and that is very unfortunate. People are very helpless.”
Fr. Igah narrated the April 7 (Good Friday) massacre that left 43 people dead and scores injured, noting that like the August 10 attack, people were relaxing in their homes and others deep asleep when armed Fulanis descended upon them with guns and machetes.
“Those who were killed on that Good Friday were not even in their farms where the Fulanis usually chase them from,” he narrated, and added, “They were killed in their homes. Most of them were in a makeshift camp when their killers came at night.”
“The security personnel that were there ran and abandoned the people. They were in a classroom sleeping when they were butchered. Many others were shot at and injured as they tried to flee,” Fr. Igah said.
He recalled that the soldiers who were posted to the community to protect the people disappeared within a few days, leaving locals at the mercy of the armed herdsmen.
“When the soldiers came here, we thought that all would be well. But after a week or so, the soldiers disappeared and the community was left to take care of themselves. Unfortunately, these Fulanis know that the security agencies have no interest in securing the lives of the people. They come and attack at will, they shoot sporadically and walk away,” he said.
He said that the new wave of attacks in Ngban has cut the access of Sacred Heart Udei Parish of Nigeria's Catholic Diocese of Makurdi to the major road and town.
“The community (Ngban) is the one linking the parish to our major access road that leads us to town to go and get our supplies,” he said, adding that it is now a risky venture to leave the parish premises to go out and buy food.
Meanwhile, the parish has welcomed 50 families chased from their farms by Fulani herdsmen. In an interview with ACI Africa last week, Fr. Igah said that the families have been allocated land parcels at the parish to grow food as many of them are at the verge of starvation.
