President Muhammadu Buhari had barely left Plateau State On Friday when a reprisal attack by Fulani herdsmen in two villages wasted eight lives.
The Fulani said Wednesday they lost three of their own to attacks from the local militia.
Buhari was in Plateau State as part of efforts to engender peace in the troubled state.
Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the Plateau State Peace Building Agency in Jos.
But in Ganda village of Daffo District in Bokkos Local Government Area and Miango village in Bassa Local Government Area, herdsmen struck killing among others, six years old Peace Joseph; her twin siblings: 16 years old Emmanuel and Christopher Joseph; (16), Henry Audu (25) and 52 years old man, Illa Isa.
The Spokesperson for the Miango Youth Development Association, Lawrence Zongo, narrated What took place:
“What happened to us is very bad, despite the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari. The state government has been preaching peace but Plateau State went up in flames. Five persons, including a set of twins.
“We have been devastated and shocked. Despite all the peace meetings with the Fulani people, the assailants keep killing our innocent people without provocation. It is sad that the military cannot arrest the Fulani persons behind the killings. The government has failed in protecting lives and property of citizens. Our demand is that the perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted.”
A former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Sunday Abdu, said, “Yes, it is true that five people were killed in Miango by Fulani herdsmen in an attack which took place on Thursday night and lasted till the early part of Friday. Others were wounded in the unprovoked attack. The bodies of the five slaughtered people have been deposited at the hospital morgue. We are no longer in a hurry to bury our dead. Whenever we are going to bury them, we will let you people know.
“The Fulani herdsmen are killing us but they are the ones crying. What kind of pretence is that? I still appeal to the security personnel not to relent, but to step up vigilance and surveillance to stop this pogrom and unwarranted carnage.”
The Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Plateau State), Mohammadu Nuru Abdullah, however gave an indication of the reason behind the Fulani reprisal attack.
According to him, Abubakar Shehu, Abubakar Gidado and Ishaq Yusuf were killed by Irigwe militia. The Irigwe are found in Bassa Local Government Area.
“It is also disturbing that the Irigwe community would always trespass into other neighbouring local government areas, launch their attacks and kill our people for no reason.”
“On the same Monday when three of our kinsmen were killed, the same militias attacked and killed a total of 38 cows; 20 of the cows belonged to Wada Alh Audu, while 18 belonged to Umaru Ibrahim.
“The Irigwe militias usually cross into Riyom, Jos South and part of Southern Kaduna to strike. In this particular incident, they operated from Rukwechungu village of Miango district in Bassa Local Government Area into Gero village of Gyel district in Jos South Local Government Area.
“They also beat up and wounded Haruna Zakariya, who is now receiving treatment in a clinic at Rafin Bauna. It is on record that this militia group has been unleashing terror on our innocent cattle herders in the area.”
Plateau Police spokesman confirmed the attack. He said:“Yesterday (Thursday), March 8, 2018, at about 8 pm, some unknown gunmen attacked and killed four Irigwe people at Datanko village and one Fulani Christian at Nzharuvo village in Miango District. The deceased persons were identified as Emmanuel Joseph (male, 16 years), Christopher Joseph (male, 16 years), Peace Joseph (male, six years), Henry Audu (male, 25 years) and Samuel Isah (male, 48 years).
“Meanwhile, Samuel Isah has been buried, while four other corpses have been deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital’s mortuary. Chenka Amos, four, is still lying unconscious at Enos Private Hospital, Miango. The investigation is in progress; intensive patrol is being sustained.”
