Over 50 persons including a pastor belonging to the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria were on Thursday night killed in attacks carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

This is according to a report in today’s edition of Saturday PUNCH. “The attackers, who targeted the villages of Gon, Nzumosu, Bolki, Nyanga, Bukuto in the Numan Local Government Areas of the state, reportedly numbered over 200,” the paper said.

“The attacks, which began in the evening, went on unimpeded as residents claimed the invaders allegedly planned and launched the attacks from Abbare, a neighbouring community in Taraba State.

“The assailants were said to have burnt down three of the villages during the attack.

A resident of Bolki, James Nzonzo, said a boat conveying about 40 women and children fleeing the community capsized during the attack, adding that only five of the occupants survived,” according to PUNCH.

It quoted the lawmaker representing Numan in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Sodom Tayedi, as decrying incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen on the community, describing it as offensive.