Yakubu Busari,Jos
The Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN Plateau state chapter, Alhaji Muhammad Nuru Abdullah and some Communities leaders in Plateau are now exchanging blame over the attacks that left 24 persons reported dead in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state following two days of persistent attacks in the Josho area of Daffo district and Irigwe communities .
The attackers who are suspected to be Fulani herdsmen got to the communities on Wednesday and immediately commenced shooting, killed one and injuring four other women at about midnight in Nghakudung village near Josho.
The attack persisted till Thursday morning leading to the sacking of the communities and people fleeing for their lives.
However, by Friday morning the death toll had risen to five with over 2,000 displaced from eight villages around the Josho area.
“On head counts of Friday at about 7pm on , no less than 18 people were killed in different locations within the area,” a local Chief, Sunday Akuns said.
A Councillor from Daffo Ward, Danjuma Mabas who houses over 10 displaced persons from the affected villages equally confirmed the figure, saying more people were still missing.
Spokesperson of the STF in Plateau State, Maj. Umar Adams had said the situation has been brought under control.
Some of the survivors however say they haven’t seen much security presence in the community.
The latest attacks which resumed few hours to the President’s visit to the state have however sparked outraged in different quarters.
The Plateau State PDP Youth Vanguard for Grassroots Mobilisation (PPYV4GM) has slammed the Governor over his inability to speak truth to the President on the security situation in the state, calling him to resign.
According to a statement by the its President, Mr. D’yong Mangut, the group regretted that while “innocent citizens were being killed at an alarming rate, the governor continues to behave indifferently.”
“Since the coming onboard of the current administration, conflict has continued to plague certain parts of Riyom and Barkin Ladi”
Meanwhile the Chairman of MACBAN, Mohammed paints a different picture of the attack.
According to him ; “It is with total dismay and overwhelming shock that the Irigwe militias in an efforts to accomplished their mission of terrorising Fulani herdsmen in Bassa LGA, have on Monday 5/3/2018 re-attacked Fulani cattle rearers and mercilessly killed three persons namely, Abubakar Shehu, Abubakar Gidado and Ishaq Yusuf without any provocation.
“It also disturbing and surprising that the Irigwe community always trespassed into other neighbouring local government areas and lunched their attacks and killed our people for no cause.
“The Irigwe militias attacked and killed a total of 38 cows on 5/3/2018, 20 cows belonging to Wada Alh Audu, and 18 cows belonging to Umaru Ibrahim on the same date stated above.
“The Irigwe militias usually cross carpeted into Riyom, Jos South and part of Southern Kaduna State to strike. In this particular incident, they operated from Rukwechungu village of Miango district in Bassa LGA into Gero village of Gyel district in Jos South LGA.
“They also beat and wounded Haruna Zakariya, who is now receiving treatment in a near by clinic (Rafin Bauna). It is on record that this militias group have been unleashing terror attacks against our innocent cattle rearer in the areas.
“ The approach of silent and systematic killings of Fulani herdsmen in the remote areas of Miango chiefdom is still alarming despite the efforts of the government, security, communities, and other non governmental organisations at maintaining the fragile peace in the State.
“Just to site an example; Ishaq Abdullah was attack and killed in Agingi village of Bassa LGA, his body was recovered on 17th February 2018. On Sunday 13th February 2018, Muhammad Abubakar was declared missing who uptill now his body have not been recovered.
Nuru also described it as unfortunate, while efforts are being made to restore peace and order, the silent killings of Fulani herdsmen by Irigwe militia continued unabated.
He however expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government and all the security agencies and called on them to re-intensify efforts in finding lasting solution. “Community leaders should work out modalities to compliment the effort of government and security agencies”, he said
