Armed men attack Plateau mourners; witness says 120 killed; police confirm 11
A cleric has reported the killing of 120 people who were returning from a funeral service.
The police confirmed the attack but said only 11 persons died.
The
pastor in charge of Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Regional Church
Council (RCC) Rop in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area said the
mourners were killed by suspected armed herdsmen.
Pam Chollom stated this in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. He said the attack on Saturday lasted for several hours.
“Fulani
people attacked our members who attended the burial of the father to
one of our clergy Baba Jakawa, at Gidin Akwati, Gashis district. Late
Jakawa was aged over 80 years, a committed member of COCIN, so his
burial attracted many sympathisers.”
“The armed Fulanis ambushed
the sympathisers on their way back from the burial, attacked and killed
34 persons from Nekan village, 39 others from Kufang, and 47 people from
Ruku village.
“As we speak with you, many others are still missing in the bushes,” he said.
The
cleric added that “the sad incident started at about 1:00 p.m. in the
afternoon, and lasted still about 8:00 p.m. yesterday (Saturday).
“We
informed members of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis. They
went to one of the villages, but the attackers had committed the havoc
and left,” Mr Chollom said.
The spokesman of the STF, also known
as “Operation Safe Heaven,” Umar Adams, confirmed the attack in an
interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.
He, however, could not ascertain the casualty.
“I’m
speaking with you from one the scenes of the incident. Our men were
able to repel the attackers, made some arrest, though lives were lost.
But at the moment, I cannot tell you exact number of the deaths.”
“Our
men in Barkin Ladi responded promptly to the incident, because they
heard sounds of the gun shots, and moved to the direction.
“On
reaching there, there was another similar incident in another village,
some of them were redeployed to the affected area. We have been able to
arrest the situation, it is now calm.”
On its part, the Nigeria
Police Force, through its spokesperson in Plateau, Terna Tyopev, told
journalists in Jos that 11 people died from the attack.
Mr.
Tyopev said the bodies of the deceased persons have been deposited at
the Barkin Ladi general hospital. He also said armed personnel have been
redeployed to the trouble areas.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Government has confirmed the attacks and commiserated with victims of the attacks.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication Yakubu Dati, said the government regrets the incident.
“The
Plateau State Government wishes to commiserate with citizens of the
state especially, Xland, Gindin Akwati communities of Barkin Ladi Local
Government, over unfortunate recent attacks,” Mr Dati said.
“Government
is deeply pained that despite concerted efforts which had led to the
restoration of relative peace across the state, some unpatriotic
elements are bent on disrupting the gains so far made.
“We,
however, appeal to citizens not to take laws into their hands and
cooperate with security agencies to prevent further break down of law
and order as they track perpetrators of the evil act.”
The cleric, Pam Chollom, also told PREMIUM TIMES that over 30 houses were completely burnt by the attackers
“At Nekan, 15 houses were burnt; in Kufang, 18 houses were also burnt,” he said.
Plateau is one of the states most affected by clashes between farmers and migrant herders.
Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks linked to herdsmen in Plateau and neighbouring states like Benue since January.
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