Death Toll Rises To 14 In Adamawa Attacks

The number of deaths following terrorists attack on Zah, Mubang Yadul and Kiking communities in Hong, Hong Local Government of Adamawa State has risen to 14 persons.

Following the attacks, the Adamawa House of Assembly has urged Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to collaborate with the Federal Government to deploy additional military personnel, equipment, and surveillance assets to Hong LGA, particularly at the communities sharing borders with the Sambisa Forest.

Speaker of the Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, also urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to dig a trench at communities sharing borders with Sambisa Forest to curtail easy access of the insurgents into the communities.

The lawmakers also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), NEDC and other relevant humanitarian agencies to intervene with relief materials, including food, medical supplies, clothing, and psychosocial support to the victims.

The Assembly further urged the state government to collaborate with the federal government and other relevant agencies and partners to increase temporary shelters at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps within Hong Town to accommodate the displaced persons.

It urged the NEDC to ensure prompt reconstruction and rehabilitation of destroyed public infrastructure, including schools, health facilities, and other government properties.

The legislators also mandated its committee on security to visit the affected communities and commiserate with the victims as well as assess the level of destruction.

The resolutions adopted by the Assembly followed a matter of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Uba/Gaya Constituency, Hon. Eng. Adum John Alaba, at the resumed plenary.

Alaba lamented that villages of Mubang and Zah were attacked repeatedly, with the most recent attack occurring Monday evening, saying the recent attack marked the third time Zah village was invaded by the insurgents.

The Lawmaker told the Assembly that during the attacks, house holds, public schools, and health centers were destroyed while many innocent citizens lost their lives.

He further lamented that the public facilities destroyed in Zah village were renovated barely two weeks ago by Governor Fintiri, thereby compounding the loss and frustration of the affected communities.

He narrated that on December 25, the insurgents attempted to attack Garaha Main town, but were repelled by the military and that on December 26, Mayo-Lade village in Gaya District was attacked, resulting in the death of scores of residents and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

According to him, the recent attack claimed 14 lives while property including houses, public facilities were destroyed at Mubang and Zah communities respectively.

He stated that if urgent steps were not taken, the situation may escalate further, leading to more loss of lives and property.

The lawmaker sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives and his entire constituents over the attack and assured them of Fintiri’s effort to ensure security around their communities and the state in general.

Commenting on the motion, the Member representing Yola South constituency, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa, pleaded with the government to intervene to protect lives and property.

Also speaking, the Majority Leader, Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno, described the attack as pathetic and unfortunate.