Reports reaching us indicates that no less than six persons have been feared dead and houses razed
during two separate attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on two
communities in Plateau State.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Aide Undie, on
Wednesday summoned an emergency meeting of stakeholders in Bassa Riyom
and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas over the incessant cases of
killings and reprisals between Fulani herdsmen and their host
communities.
According to Punch Metro, the stakeholders’ meeting was attended by
security operatives, religious leaders, representatives of Fulani
herdsmen and government representatives.
The first incident was said to have happened on Monday night when
suspected Fulani gunmen attacked Rikwe Chongu village in Miango District
of Bassa Local Government Area.
Unofficial sources said three victims killed during the attack were
returning from a mining site when they were attacked by the hoodlums.
A survivor, Sunday Samson, said the attackers allegedly bore AK
47rifles, which they used to kill two and used a machete to severe the
head of the third victim.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police
Command, Matthias Tyopev, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, could
not confirm the attack in Bassa LGA.
The second killing was said to have occurred on Wednesday morning
in Dasho, a village in Daffo District in Bokkos LGA, during a
misunderstanding between a Fulani and a native youth where they were
working at a block-making site.
During the fracas, the native youth was said to have used one of
the blocks to hit the Fulani boy on the head and he died immediately.
Consequently, a 25-year-old woman was shot and killed by the Fulani
on her farm in retaliation, while another boy riding a bicycle, was
also gunned down.
Tyopev confirmed to our correspondent that one person had been
arrested in connection with the killings in Bokkos, while the corpses of
the three victims had been taken to the Jos University Teaching
Hospital for autopsy.
According to him, one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, while investigation continues.
He said, “There was an incident that happened in Bokkos. Today
(Wednesday), about 10 am, a Police Division in Bokkos received a
distressed call that there was a problem in Dasho, a village in Daffo
District, that there was a misunderstanding between a Fulani youth and a
native youth where they were working at a block-making site.
“The native youth used one of the blocks to hit the Fulani boy
on the head and he died immediately, as a result of which a woman
identified as Victoria Sunday, about 25 years old was shot and killed on
her farm in retaliation.
“Another boy riding bicycle named Moses, surname not yet known,
also a native was shot and killed. The village has been razed down by
Fulani people. The three corpses have been taken to JUTH for autopsy.
One suspect has been arrested, while investigation continues.”
Tyopev said the CP told the stakeholders that attacks and reprisals would never solve any problem.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police called stakeholders from
Bassa Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs over the recurrent cases of killings
and reprisals, attacks and reprisals. The CP also said that in their
interest, they should shun bitterness, embrace peace and live like
normal human beings.
“The CP also told them that attacks and reprisals will never
solve any problem, until when their leaders decide to sit down and
reason like human beings and allow the past to go so that they will live
in peace as they were living before.
“The stakeholders assured him that they will go back and heed
his advice by living with their brothers. But the only concern the
people of Bassa LGA, particularly Irigwe reiterated, was that the Fulani
herdsmen have killed their people and they have just buried their
kinsmen.”
Punch Metro reports