Sophia Michaels
As many as eight people have been killed in a fresh attack by gunmen in Plateau state, The PUNCH reports.
It was learnt that the incident occurred on Friday night in Rawuru community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
A youth leader in the community, Solomon Dalyop confirmed the killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Saturday.
Dalyop said “So far, we have confirmed that eight persons were killed during the attack last night in Rawuru community in Barkin LGA. What we don’t understand is that before the attack took place, some soldiers came to the village in the afternoon. We also saw them in the night.
“And yet, the villagers were attacked leading to the killing of the victims who were in their homes. How come the assailants will carry out the attacks successfully without being apprehended by the soldiers and the security agents who are also within the community?”
Another community leader and president Global Society for Middle Belt Heritage, Jerry Datim who described the attacks as one too many called for an investigation into the activities of the personnel of the Military Taskforce deployed to maintain peace in Plateau communities.
He also noted that a total of 276 persons had been killed in different communities in the past month following the persistent attacks with over 30,000 displaced.
“We have the Mass grave sites where deceased bodies were buried for those that care to go round and see for themselves. Thirty thousand (30,000) IDPs were scattered in Mangu, Panyam, Mangu Halle, Yilpo (Sabon Gari) Fan in Barkin Ladi, Maikatako in Bokkos, Marish in Bokkos, Bukuru in Jos-South and a lot in Jos North LGAs of Plateau State.
“We also want to bring to your notice that our children both at Primary, Secondary Schools and some students of tertiary institutions in the affected Local Governments have missed their examinations such as; the Junior NECO Exams set for JSS 3, also the ongoing Senior Secondary School Examination and the Tertiary examinations due to forceful migration of our people to various places as IDPs president stated.
“We want to thank our Plateau ethnic brothers that have been supportive of our people and we wish to regret with shock the silent position of SEMA and NEMA which before now were known for their quick response in time like this but until now we have not felt their presence. We are calling on SEMA to work in accordance with their constitutional responsibilities and attend to the 30,000 IDPs scattered across the state.
The group accused the Military Special Taskforce in charge of maintaining security in the state of not doing enough to secure the lives of the people.
They called on the federal government to disband all military checkpoints in the state and replace them with that mobile police for more operational effectiveness
“We want our people who were displaced to be returned to their ancestral land with immediate effect. The federal government should also see to their welfare and security. While waiting for the vacation of the Fulani from our ancestral lands, any subsequent attack on any community henceforth, the Leaders of the Fulani should be held responsible for harbouring the assailants,” the group warned.
Efforts to speak with the Spokesman for the Police Command in the state, Alabo Alfred proved abortive as he did not pick up his calls when contacted on the latest attacks in the affected communities.
