Jalingo – The police in Jalingo confirmed that unknown gunmen on Saturday trailed and killed 13 Fulani herdsmen who were returning from village markets in Garba-Chede and Maihula.

ASP Joseph Kwaji, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the police command in the state made the disclosure on Sunday in Jalingo.

He said the herdsmen were waylaid and killed by unidentified group of armed youths along a bush path in the outskirts of Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, no arrest has been made but the command has beefed up security in the area to track down the perpetrators.

He added that it was not clear why the incident took place but further investigation would be able to reveal the reasons for the attack and the people behind it.

The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Mr Andrew Yerima, said the herdsmen were trailed by the armed men from Garba-Chede market where they were believed to have gone to sell their cows.

Yerima called for calm and advised residents of the area not to take the law into their hands.

He assured them that the culprits would be brought to book.

/NAN