Adamawa State police command has confirmed the killing of five travellers in Pasham village along Nan-Jalingo road in Demsa Local Government Area of the state.
The driver of the vehicle who identified himself as Adamu said the victims were traders on their way to a cattle market in Taraba State around 10am yesterday when the militia operating as vigilantes ambushed their vehicle in Bali village.
Adamu said he managed to turn the vehicle and drove to Pasham village where they sought refuge but the attackers surrounded them and beheaded four of them despite pleas from the district head of Pasham.
Leaders of the Adamawa State Muslim Council had visited Numan hospital to prepare the corpses for burial in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Police spokesman in Adamawa, SP Othman Abubakar, said a local militia killed five travellers and injured seven others, adding that police investigation was ongoing to arrest the killers.
Appealing against reprisal attack, Othman urged restraint as the police is working to address the problem.
Until the Monday attack, Numan and Demsa area enjoyed relative peace after series of communal attacks as a result of conflict between herdsmen and farmers.
