Tension: Fulani herdsmen strike again kill 22 in Plateau
28/06/2016 8:14
– About 22 people have been killed by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen
– The herdsmen reportedly attacked some communities in Plateau state
– A warning letter was said to have been sent by the herdsmen, prior to their attack
– Investigations into the attack are still on going
Six other people were reportedly injured following the attack of the armed herdsmen. The killings took place on the night of Sunday, June 26, at Hwak-Kwata village in Jos South Local Government Area and Hoss in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.
Fulani herdsmen invade Plateau communities
Residents were seen wailing over the killing of their siblings. Others went in search of their missing relatives. The Chairman of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Mr Pwakim Choji, said that “the attackers came late in the night and initially killed 14 people and left eight others critically injured. He said that two of the injured later died, bringing the death toll to 16.”
But some residents claimed that they had found 22 bodies at the scenes of the attacks. Choji said: “Our people said that the attackers who are Fulani, were accompanied by men dressed in military uniforms, which is really a disturbing issue. We don’t know why they came to attack us. As I speak to you, about a hundred of our people are missing, so we are short of words.”
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Another source in the community alleged that the Fulani had written to warn the communities of Kwata, Trade Centre and Kuru, all in Jos South Local Government Area, that they were not going to know peace any longer, but the communities took it lightly.
“But on Sunday night the Fulani made good their threat when they attacked about six houses in Kwata leaving 16 people dead.
“They hacked down helpless children and women, leaving them in the pools of their blood. Those, who tried to escape into the nearby bush, were shot by the attackers,” the source said.
Choji confirmed that six persons were killed on Sunday night in Hoss village of Riyom council, bringing the death toll to 22.
A member representing Jos South/Jos East Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Edward Pwajok, described the incident as unfortunate.
Through his Legislative Aide, Mr Ayuba Pam, Pwajok said that “when we thought peace has returned, some people are bent on creating unstable situation. We condemn this act and call on security operatives to be more proactive.”
The State Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abuh Emmanuel, said the casualty figures could not be ascertained.
“The Police Commissioner has drafted men to the scene of the sad incident. Efforts are being made to ensure that the perpetrators of the act are arrested.
“We are appealing to the public to go about their normal business as the situation has been put under control,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said that a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle in his state will soon be enacted.
The governor made this disclosure in Makurdi, Benue state capital on Monday, June 27, at the end of the Town Hall Meeting he held with stakeholders in the three senatorial zones of the state.
According to him, his administration will not surrender Benue state to the invading Fulani herdsmen, despite unending attacks on communities in the state, Vanguard reports.
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