BREAKING: Gombe offers N5m, relief materials to victims of herders’ attack

The Gombe State Government has donated relief materials to victims of suspected herders’ attacks in Powushi Shobbule village in Kalmai District, Billiri Local Government Area.

The attack on the Powushi Shobbule community occurred on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of one person, as well as several others injured, and the destruction of houses, animals, and storage facilities as confirmed by police Public Relations Officer ASP Buhari Abdullahi.

Our correspondent reports that the relief materials donated to the victims include N5 million cash, 250 bags of 25kg rice, 50 cartons of vegetable oil, 40 bags of salt, 200 bags of 10kg maize, 500 blankets, 500 nylon mats, 50 cartons of bathing soap, 100 pieces of plastic buckets, 500 mosquito nets, and 500 wrappers.

Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, led a delegation to the village on Monday, where they assessed the damage and presented the relief materials.

Yahaya urged the residents to exercise patience, acknowledging that the attack was unfortunate despite the security measures put in place by the state government.

The governor said, “The happenings that we saw tend to suggest that somewhere somehow, there must be an insider. Therefore, we call on the Mai Kalmai, the Sarkin Fulani, the youths, and all the people of Kalmai to identify the bad people.”

On his part, the district head of Kalmai, Zubairu Amadu, commended the state government for the donation but urged them to intensify efforts to address the challenge of herders’ attacks, saying, “If these attacks continue, we will no longer farm grains and other crops as well as livestock farming. We will stop farming activities, relocate from our villages, and come to town.”

The chairperson of Billiri LG, Egla Idris, tasked the people to remain calm, assuring them that the state government was working to ensure their safety, warning against politicising the attack, “The people should support the state government in securing the state,” she said.