One person died and three others sustained serious injuries when a Fulani settlement at Jingbe, Ajaokuta Local Government, Kogi State was completely gutted by an overnight fire.
It was gathered in Lokoja on Sunday that the settlement made up of 87 thatch houses and being inhabited by over 300 Fulani men, women and their children was gutted by fire at about 2 am when the occupants were fast asleep.
The fire was suspected to have been ignited by game hunters who are yet to be identified.
Briefing newsmen on the development, the acting Chairman of the state branch of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MCBAN), Ardo Bello Garatu said that the incident happened in the early hours of Feb. 8.
Garatu who spoke through Mr Adamu Abubakar, the state Acting Assistant Secretary of the association said that a two year old male child died in the incident while three women sustained various degree of injuries.
He said that the victims, apart from being rendered homeless, lost cash and personal effects worth millions of naira.
Garatu said that the victims, including children are now being forced to live in the open, calling for urgent intervention from the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The association also appealed to the Federal Government to direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately come to the aid of the victims to prevent further loss of lives.
