In a tragic escalation of violence, Gurjaja village, nestled within the Fika local government area of Yobe State, has become the scene of a harrowing reprisal attack purportedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The aftermath of the assault has left one individual dead and over 100 houses razed to the ground, plunging the community into despair and displacement.
The cycle of bloodshed and destruction began to unfold two weeks prior when reports emerged of three Gurjaja residents falling victim to violence at the hands of Fulani herdsmen. In response to this heinous act, the aggrieved community reportedly launched a retaliatory strike, resulting in the deaths of two Fulani herdsmen.
However, the retaliatory violence appears to have incited further aggression, with the suspected Fulani herdsmen retaliating with a ferocious assault on Gurjaja village. Under the cover of darkness, they descended upon the community, setting ablaze homes and decimating farmlands, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
Eye-witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, recounted the harrowing ordeal, describing how the assailants launched a coordinated attack, targeting both property and livelihoods. Mallam Abubakar Ustaz, one of the witnesses, vividly recalled the influx of Fulani assailants converging on the village, orchestrating a relentless onslaught that resulted in widespread destruction.
Confirming the grim reality of the attack, a credible source from the security agencies acknowledged the tragic events that unfolded in Gurjaja community, further underscoring the urgent need for swift intervention to quell the escalating tensions and restore peace to the embattled region.
