Armed Fulani militias have killed at least 42 persons after setting over 338 houses ablaze during their invasion of several communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The armed group also looted about eight cars, 13 motorcycles, generators, food and domestic items during the onslaught against the Atyap Chiefdom of the state.

According to the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), the Fulani and Atyap communities had signed a peace pact but the Fulani breached the peace deal by sending scores to their early grave and destroying property worth millions.

“The entire Atyap Nation seems to be at loss to these senseless killings by the Fulani Militia,” said Samuel Achie, the President of the group. “We have bend over to implement the decisions of the peace accord reached with the parties involved.”

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The group leader noted that houses of prominent people in the communities were razed by the “these Fulani militia”.

“The houses razed include the family compound of our paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Sir Dominic Yahaya, in Magamiya and also the family compound of retired Major General Shekari Biliyock in Abuyab, a former commandant of the Nigeria-African Peace Keeping Arm, the ECOMOG.”

He also said: “Our people are known to be purely peasant farmers, but at this season of farming, they have to abandon their farms for fear of being killed.

“All schools in the area are closed down hence our children can no longer go to school, therefore creating a humanitarian crisis for all the displaced people in the land.

“This, in turn, creates an urgent need for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp to cater for those that have been left at the mercy of the weather both in rain and sunshine without any roof on their heads since the renewed persistent attacks.”

Attacks by bandits and other armed groups have led to the death of several Nigerians, especially in the northern part of the country, in the last one year. FIJ reported on Monday that 237 Nigerians had been killed and 2,371 kidnapped in the first half of this year.