The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Plateau attack

  • 18 persons killed in Plateau attack

    Over 100 gunmen on Tuesday night invaded Kadunung village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing 18 people and injuring others.

    Sources said the gunmen, suspected to be Berom youths, also set ablaze houses.

    The Chairman, Management Committee of Mangu Local Government, Mr. Titus Bise, who confirmed the attack, said: “Over 150 houses were torched by the attackers.

    “I was part of the people, who rescued the victims. We have recovered 11 bodies.

    “In a house, we saw seven charred bodies. Eighteen people have died so far. We suspect there are more bodies in the bushes. Youths are searching for more bodies. The recovered ones have been buried.

    “The attack has created a problem for the government. Over 5,000 residents have been displaced. Their houses were burnt down.

    “Although members of the community allege that the gunmen are their Berom neighbours, this will be confirmed after investigation. I’m not in a position to confirm this.”

    Troops in the state called ‘Operation safe haven’ described the attack as a reprisal allegedly launched by the Berom, following an earlier attack on their community.

    ‘Operation safe haven’ spokesman Capt. Ikedichi Iweha said: “It’s true there was an attack on Kadunung village. Houses were torched and residents were displaced.

    “The troops got the information very late. But we have taken over the area in search of the gunmen. We can’t confirm the attackers are Berom because we are yet to arrest anyone. We will discover the attackers after our investigation.”

    Bise appealed to government agencies at the federal and state levels to assist the victims.

    The villagers have fled their homes.

    The leader of the Berom vigilance group in Barkin Ladi, Mr. Pam Bot, denied the allegation, saying the Berom could never attack their neighbours in that manner.

    He alleged: “This kind of attack is carried out by the Fulani militia lurking around the boundary between Barkin Ladi and Mangu. I have received reports of some of the gunmen who died in this attack. It is a confirmation that the attackers are Fulani, not Berom.

    “The Berom community sympathises with the families, who lost their loved ones in the attack.”

  • 18 killed in Plateau attack

    Gunmen on Tuesday night invaded Kadunung village in Mangu local government area of Plateau State, killing 18 people and injured several others.

    The gunmen suspected to be Berom youths also razed several houses in the village.

    The Chairman Management Committee of Mangu local government, Hon. Titus Bise, who confirmed the attack said over 150 houses were burnt by the attackers.

    He said, “After the attack, I was part of the rescue team that evacuated the victims and so far we have recovered 11 bodies of people burnt in their houses.

    “Apart from the 11 bodies we picked from various places, there is a compound where we saw seven people burnt in their rooms. That makes 18 deaths so far. We are suspecting there are bodies in the bushes, some youths are still searching and more bodies might be recovered. But for now we have dead bodies which have buried already.

    “The attack has created serious humanitarian problems for government. We are talking of 5,000 residence of the village that had been displaced because their houses were burnt by the attackers.

    “Though members of the communities are alleging that the gunmen are their Berom neighbors, but that will be subject to confirmation after full investigation. I’m not in the position to confirm that now.”

     

  • US condemns Plateau attack

    Criticism has continued to trail the attacks in Shonong, Plateau State.

    The United States of America yesterday urged the Federal Government to investigate the attack.

    In a statement by its Information Office of the Public Affairs Section, the US said it was concerned by the cyclical nature of reprisal killings that undermine inter-communal relations in the Middle Belt region.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the attacks in Shonong village, Plateau State, on January 6, where reports indicate that women and children were killed in senseless violence.

    “We are concerned by the cyclical nature of reprisal killings that undermine inter-communal relations in the Middle Belt region. Nigeria’s diversity and the harmony among its people remain a source of great strength for its democracy.

    “We urge the citizens of Plateau State to work toward a peaceful resolution of conflicts and grievances. We also urge the Federal Government to investigate this attack, hold the responsible parties accountable, and work to provide increased security for civilians to prevent a recurrence.”

  • US condemns plateau attack

    More criticism has continued to trail the recent attacks in Shonong, Plateau State.

    United States on Wednesday condemned the attack and urged the Federal Government to investigate the incident.

    US in a statement made available to the media in Abuja by its embassy information office, Public affairs Section said it was concerned by the cyclical nature of reprisal killings that undermines inter-communal relations in the Middle Belt region.

    The statement reads, “We condemn the recent attacks in Shonong village, Plateau State, on January 6, where reports indicate that women and children were killed in senseless violence.

    “We are concerned by the cyclical nature of reprisal killings that undermines inter-communal relations in the Middle Belt region. Nigeria’s diversity and the harmony among its people remain a source of great strength for its democracy.

    “We urge the citizens of Plateau State to work toward a peaceful resolution of conflicts and grievances. We also urge the Government of Nigeria to investigate this attack, hold the responsible parties accountable, and work to provide increased security for civilians to prevent future acts like this from taking place.”