Pain, anguish in Nasarawa community over killing of forest guard personnel

Forest guards protecting log of woods. Sources: ICIR.

Residents of Ome Community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have said they are in pains and anguish over the killing of a personnel of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, Lawrence Cletus.

 Sources familiar with the circumstances of Cletus death,  alleged that the guard was killed by the rampaging  herdsmen in the community.

 Cletus, a 39-year-old man was said to have been attacked by the herdsmen for trying to arrest them after they invaded a farmland in the community with their cattles, causing severe damage.

 Arewa PUNCH gathered that the incident happened in the farm close to the river bank in the community at about 5:30 pm on Sunday.

 The alleged farm invasion was subsequently reported at the police outpost in Ome community for security intervention.

 Meanwhile, it was disclosed that Cletus, who was also a hunter, was attacked, killed and drowned inside the river by the herdsmen who felt irked at his audacious efforts to get them arrested.

 A resident who simply gave his name as Jonah told journalists that the herdsmen had continued to attack indigenes of the community over unknown offences for several years.

He lamented that despite previous efforts by leaders of Ome community to attract the state government’s attention to the several attacks and killings being carried out by the herdsmen in the community, nothing seemed to change as they continued to unleash mayhem on the people without any restraints.

 He added, “When the news of his death broke out in the community shortly after the attack, almost all the residents ran to the river where he was drowned and recovered his dead body.

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 “From the information we gathered, he was killed because he was among officials of the Nigeria Forestry Security Services who came to arrest the herdsmen.”

 When contacted, a senior police officer at the Ome Community Police outpost, Habib Isa told our correspondent that the heinous incident had already been reported to the police authorities.

 He added that investigation had commenced in order to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

 He, thus, called on residents of the community to remain calm and go about their businesses and farming activities without any fear or hindrances, while assuring that the situation is currently under control.

 Also reacting to the ugly incident, the village Head of Ome community, Luka Zhemuga, who condemned the attack which led to the death of Cletus, described the situation as sad and unwarranted.

The village Head advised the residents to remain law abiding as appropriate authorities had been informed about the situation.

 He also assured that investigations had commenced to fish out the perpetrators of the act, in order to serve as deterrent to others.

 Our correspondent gathered that the late Lawrence Cletus died leaving behind two wives and five children.