Three Killed in Fresh Attacks on Plateau Community

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Three persons have been confirmed killed in two fresh attacks on Friday night on Kura-Falls community of Gashish district in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Mr. Terna Tyopev, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the attacks in a telephone interview Saturday evening.

Tyopev said: “We have received information this morning, at about 0700hrs that residents were attacked in Kura Falls yesterday (Friday) at about 2130hrs and early this (Saturday) morning by unknown gunmen which resulted in the death of three persons.

“They are Dawala Bullet (30 years old), Fidelis Richard (31 years old) and Iliya Doro (60 years old), all male of the same address. We have mobilised to the District (Gashish District). Investigation into the case is ongoing to track and arrest the perpetrators to face justice.”

Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), had in a statement signed by Nuru Muhammad Abdullahi, decried the attacks on the Fulani and rustling of their cattle by suspected youths from Berom ethnic nationality.

Abdullahi demanded that the government should as a matter of urgency, “intervene and arrest the situation, investigate and prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors and take any other appropriate action to avert further escalation”.

He said the attack of Fulani cut across all the three councils occupied by the Berom, adding that “the recent attack on herdsmen in Jong village of Ropp District of Barkin Ladi LGA was particularly pathetic considering that Fulani were observing the Ramadan fasting”.

But the Berom, on the other hand, have dismissed the allegations by the Fulani, insisting that the Fulani had attacked and displaced several Berom from their ancestral homes.

Addressing the press in Jos, the Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) said over 33,000 Beroms have been rendered homeless following the incessant Fulani attacks

Vice-Chairman of BECO, Chief Iliya Choji kim, while lamenting the wanton killings and destruction of properties in Berom communities in the month of May, called on the federal and state governments to do everything to ensure that the Berom reclaimed their homes and farms that had been forcefully occupied by the Fulani.

He said: “The native villages that are under occupation must be vacated for the people to get back to their ancestral homes to carry on with their livelihood just like any other law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. These natives are now squatting with relations and other spirited friends.

“The killings in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas must be properly investigated to fish out those responsible for sanction.”

He added that: “Despite the fact that these herders/terrorists have visited our ancestral land with mayhem and are now arrogantly occupying a good number of villages, they are the ones who have the guts to cry foul.”