PDP Loses Publicity Secretary to Herdsmen Attack in Adamawa

 

By Emma Ella

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) on Wdnesday confirmed the death of it Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sam Zadok, who was among the 20 people killed in the attack by herdsmen last Tuesday in Gwamba village of Demsa Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming his death, the state Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Abdullahi Parambe, said the party would continue to regret the absence of Zadok “who have been instrumental to the party’s development especially in the southern senatorial district of the state.”

While addressing journalists in Yola, the state capital, he said the deceased was also former state Commissioner of Ministry of Youth and Sports in the administration of former state Governor,  Murtala Nyako, who have never attempted to defect to any other political party.

PDP also condemned in strong term the wanton killings, but called on the incumbent state government to as a matter of urgency stop the spate of killings.

However, Zadok was said to have been ambushed by the assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on their way to the troubled area to broker peace.

 Reports had it that the late former commissioner and his entourage was a stone through to the troubled areas when they were attacked and killed instantly.

Until his demise last Tuesday, Zadok was the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, and was an ally to Senator Grace Bent.

 Zadok participated during the just concluded peace initiative between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers headed by the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi,  where he called on the immediate redeployment of the Brigade Commander of the 232 Battalion  in Yola for taking side with the herdsmen.

 Also speaking, a native of Gwamba community, Mr. Omayan Tambaya, confirmed that 20 people from his village were massacred while 30 were injured and many houses razed down as residents flee to a nearby village for safety.

Tambaya explained that the assailants numbering about 50 stormed the village in four Toyota Hilux Vans and motorcycles shooting sporadically at the people.

He disclosed that letters and phone calls were received from the assailants two weeks before the attack and reported same to the police division in Gwamba for necessary action, but surprisingly, despite the report to the police, no action was taken to avert the ugly situation

 The community leader lamented that the entire Gwamba village has been razed down and about 2,500 residents were displaced as a result of the attack while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Spokesman SP Othman Abubakar, said a combined team of military and police had moved to the village which was burnt down and deserted.

 According to the police spokesperson, while trailing the assailants, one Bula youth was arrested with one AK47 riffle with 41 rounds of 7.62mm as the team moved to Garikiji village where six herdsmen were also arrested.

   Items recovered from them included one locally made riffle with 25 cartridges; a cutlass, bow and arrow, charms and looted clothes presently in the custody of the army.