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 the Media 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 the Media 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 the Media 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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