Tragedy struck Powishi Village in Kalmai District, Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State, as gunmen armed with dangerous weapons launched an early-morning attack on Thursday, December 12, 2024. The attackers, suspected to be herdsmen, arrived on motorbikes, setting houses ablaze and rustling an unspecified number of livestock.
Among the casualties was a cleric, Mallam Yusuf Akwara, whose death has left the community in mourning.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Gombe State Police Command, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, stated that a swift response team comprising police officers and personnel from the 301 Artillery Regiment, led by the Area Commander Billiri, was dispatched to address the situation. However, the assailants had fled before their arrival. Despite this, residents and security teams managed to extinguish the fires that engulfed parts of the village.
The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, visited the site alongside senior security officials, including the Commanding Officer of the 301 Artillery Regiment, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Chairperson of Billiri LGA. They assessed the damage and offered condolences to the bereaved families and affected community members.
Abdullahi assured the public that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, along with officers from 34PMF and 59PMF units, have been deployed to track down the perpetrators.
"The Commissioner of Police calls for patience and cooperation from the public as the police work diligently to bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice," Abdullahi said.
