Residents of Dong, one of the villages attacked and burnt on Monday by militant herdsmen said they had buried over 45 corpses, who were among those killed during the attack by the gunmen.

Hama Batta, Mr Alhamdu Teneke, told Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who was on a visit to the troubled communities on Tuesday that over 45 corpses had been given a mass burial in the community.

Also, youths in Numan alleged that fighter jets of Nigerian Air Force killed over 50 residents through air bombardment of the community.

It is believed that over 100 might have been killed in the invasion of about five villages in the Numan area of the state by herdsmen.

District Head of Dong and the village head of Lawuru, another village in the area, were also killed in the attacks.

Osinbajo said his visit to the state was to find a lasting solution to the unending killings following the clashes between the locals and Fulani herdsmen in Numan and its environs.

The VP, who held a closed-door meeting with Lamido of Adamawa, Mr Barkindo Mustapha, at the Presidential Lodge of Yola International Airport, condemned leaders fuelling violent conflicts in the country.

At Numan, Osinbajo met with Hama Bachama, Mr Honest Stephen, saying “leaders, who fail to ensure peace in the land have lost the right to leadership.”

The Vice-President’s visit was nearly marred by youths protesting alleged killing of over 50 residents by NAF fighter jets.

The youths, who had gathered for mass burial of the 50 corpses reportedly killed by the fighter jets, seized the visit of the VP to converge on the palace of the paramount ruler to protest the killing of the residents by the jets.

Osinbajo said the government was particularly concerned about the casualties involving women and children.

“Every one of us, who is a leader, will know that something has gone wrong. Anybody can fight, anybody can kill, only true leaders can bring people together and make progress,” he stated.

While in Dong, one of the villages completely razed by the invaders, residents said the gunmen attacked the village in their hundreds.

Osinbajo added, “The reason why we are here is to see for ourselves. Your Excellency, what we have seen here, as you have said, is not the first time, is very sad, that lives have been lost and properties destroyed.

“The first thing of course is to find how we can compensate the loss and take immediate steps and make sure that NEMA immediately supplies relief materials and also restores some things destroyed to the state where they were before the destruction and that is the reason the President has sent me here.’’

“We must ensure perpetrators of violence are prevented with every power at our disposal. This is the time to come together to make progress as a people. There is no reason why we should allow so much poverty and all we are doing is fighting and killing each other. No reason.

“Our role is to provide security and resources so that everybody can enjoy their lives as citizens of this country.”

Punch