Gunmen kill two, torch 120 houses in Plateau

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GUNMEN have again struck in Plateau State killing two members of one family and setting about 120 houses on fire in the northern zone of the state.

  Reports said the attackers came into the village at about 2:00 a.m. yesterday shooting sporadically.

  A man, who simply referred to himself as Adams, said: “The gunmen struck Diyam-Rim in Riyom Local Council Area at the early hours of today (yesterday), killed two persons and injured four others who are now receiving treatment at Vom Christian Hospital.”

  This development took place simultaneously at Rakok and Razat in Barkin Ladi Local Council Area by suspected gunmen. The villages have almost been deserted due to previous attacks.

  It was gathered that the rampaging gunmen torched over 120 houses and foodstuffs harvested from the farms and vehicles in the area were destroyed.

  Interim Administrator of Barkin Ladi Local Council, Mr. Habila Dung, told The Guardian that the gunmen stormed the villages in the early hours of yesterday, destroying everything on their path.

  Member, representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Daniel Dem, who also spoke with journalists yesterday, confirmed that two persons were killed during the incident.

  According to him, “the gunmen stormed the village and opened fire on an isolated house, killing two members of a family in their sleep.”

  Dem further said that two other family members sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

  When contacted, Spokesman of the Special Task Force (STF), Captain Salisu Ibrahim Mustapha, told The Guardian that the gunmen invaded the area. He also disclosed that some youths in another separate attack, invaded Taro and Lua villages but the STF repelled the attackers.

  In the process, he said four villagers received gunshot wounds before the arrival of the STF soldiers. The injured were rushed to the hospital.

  Meanwhile, over 70,000 Tivs have fled their homes for fear of Fulani attacks in Nasarawa. This has forced the traditional rulers in the state to subsequently call for assistance.

  However, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Isa Mustapha Agwai l, yesterday urged the over 70,000 Tiv farmers who deserted their areas over rumour of attack by Fulani herdsmen, to return to their various ancestral homes as there are adequate security measures to protect them.

  He expressed concern during a meeting with other traditional rulers in the state in his palace in Lafia, that the continued fleeing of the Tiv community may cause scarcity of foodstuff and a slow down in economic activities in the state.

  The monarch observed that the crisis was between the Fulani and Tiv people of Benue State and wondered why those in Nasarawa State have decided to abandon their homes to other places.

  Already, over 70,000 Tiv farmers, mostly women and children, cutting across Awe, Keana, Obi, Doma and some parts of Lafia Local Council Areas, which constitute the southern senatorial district of the state, have deserted their homes for fear of attack by Fulani mercenaries.

  In their separate contributions at the meeting, which was attended by elders and leadership of Tiv development association, Tiv youth organisation and security chiefs in the state, the Osakpa of Akpanaja, Musa Abari, Osokadoko and Fabian Orogu, both confirmed the persistent killing of Tiv farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen in their areas and appealed for urgent steps to stem the ugly situation.


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