The Nation Newspaper

Tag: plateau killings

  • Plateau killings: Buhari leaves Calabar for Jos

    President Muhammadu Buhari has left Calabar for Jos, the capital of Plateau state.

    The president was in Cross River state  earlier on Tuesday for the commissioning of Calabar Rice seedling plant.

    According to Bashir Ahmad, his personal Assistant on New Media,  the President is already leaving the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, for Jos.

    He said: “President Mohammadu Buhari  leaving the Margaret Ekpo International Airport for Jos Plateau State.”

    Read Also: U.S. condemns Plateau killings

    According to him,  President  Buhari will condole with people and government of plateau state over the recent killings, and also meet with community leaders and other stakeholders.

    Ahmad noted that  the Federal Government’s  effort to find a lasting solution to the crisis across the country.

  • Anger over Plateau killings

    Angry  youths hit the streets yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital. They were protesting weekend’s attacks in which  no fewer than 86 people died.

    Security agents were fast in stopping the protesters from taking their battle to the city centre.

    The protesters claimed that security agencies did not protect the attacked villagers during the gunmen’s invasion.

    In Bukuru, they blocked the federal highway and set up bonfires.

    Before noon, all was calm on the streets. Elswhere, there were verbal battles over the killings.

    Stakeholders resorted to a blame game over the killings in Berom communities by people believed to be Fulani herdsmen.

    Berom leaders said Goveror Simon Lalong should be held responsible for failing to protect lives and properties. Fulani leaders and youths said the governor had done his best to secure the state.

    After an on-the-spot assessment of villages attacked by herdsmen in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, the Plateau Concerned Professionals Forum (PCPF) insisted that it was important Lalong should consolidate on the existing relationship with security formations.

    Speaking through the Convener, Dr Pam Chuwang, the group decried the renewed killings in some parts of the state, describing the action as not only “barbaric” and “reprehensible”, but also “untenable” and “unacceptable”.

    Dr Chuwang said: “The Plateau State Government needs to urgently develop the political will to end these killings in the state. How can people be killed like animals just like that?

    “While we appeal for calm, restraint to residents and warn against reprisals, it is important to call on the state government to further consolidate on the existing relationship with the security formations in the state particularly Operation Safe Haven, OPSH,  the Nigeria Police Mobile Force and the Department for State Services, DSS, to bring to the barest minimum these unfortunate incidents.”

    “We are particularly displeased with the performance of some security agencies who abandoned their entire work for Operation Safe Haven for reasons best known to them. What about the people specially trained to gather intelligence? Where were they when these terrorists were planning? This is sad and can no longer be tolerated”

    He said the group’s visit to the villages  was for an on- the – spot assessment of the situation and to interact with the locals,” perhaps so as to have a clearer understanding of the issues and foster suggestions for a sustainable mutual relationship with the security and the locals”.

    “It is consequent on the above premise that The Plateau Concerned Professionals Forum has embarked on this stakeholder meeting to chart a way forward for peace in order to guarantee that prosperity that every society so much cherishes. We are of the considered view that without peace, there can be no prosperity, without prosperity, there can be no peace conversely.”

    The group applauded the efforts of the military task force, “Operation Safe Haven”, for the timely deployment of personnel to the crisis scene, a development, it noted, which curtailed the level of carnage by the herdsmen. “Indeed, if not for the timely response of the Operation Safe Haven,  one wonders how the spate of killings would have gone on unabated and to no end. We are particularly comforted by the special and proactive nature of the operation OPSH officers.

    “This commendation to the security agencies is particularly important because despite the difficult terrain and the unpredictable nature and sequence of the attacks , the Operation Safe Haven officers have demonstrated tremendous capacity to repel and forestall further attacks on the people,” it said.

    According to Chuwang, “despite the challenges and unfortunate occurrence,  the local community people have expressed delight to the men of OPSH”. “Without their prompt intervention,  the casualties would be more severe and unimaginable. As a matter of fact, these attackers would have wiped out all our communities.

    “It is our  considered view that we focus on areas of strengthening peace in the society and eschew bitterness and politics as well as religious sentiments which are sustained by individual and community speculation.”

    The group, according to Chuwang, promised to facilitate an open stakeholders meeting with residents and security agencies as well as the civil society and mass media to address the issues and chart a way forward for peace and stability in the state”.

    The Fulani community exonerated the governor of blame over the attacks. They commended Lalong for restoring peace since he took over in 2015, but said his efforts were being frustrated by criminal elements in the localities.

    The Plateau Regeneration Group (PRG) said: “As a group we know that Governor Lalong as a man who is determined to restore peace; that is why no one was surprised when immediately after his inauguration, the governor made enthronement of peace the main thrust of his administration.

    “It is a common knowledge on the Plateau that before the advent of the Governor Simon Lalong-led administration, the state had been dragged behind by protracted crises that had bedeviled previous administrations, with over 14 years of communal, ethnic and religious crises.

    “The aftermath of these sustained crises in the state was not just limited to monumental loss of lives and valuable properties belonging to government and citizens, it also sent away investors and tourists who should have contributed to the development of the state. Investors feared that any investment in the state at that time was as good as a waste of time and resources.

    “We should not be blaming Lalong for this crisis ,because  we know that  the Lalong-led administration is working round the clock in collaboration with security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators of this act are brought to book.”

  • Osinbajo: Fed Govt highly disturbed over Plateau killings

    Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo said last nigt in Jos, the Plateau State capital, that the Federal Government was highly disturbed about the security situation in Plateau State.

    He told community leaders and security agencies the view of the government at the Plateau State Government House in Rayfield, Jos, when he arrived for on–the-spot assessment of the site of weekend’s attacks in which scores were killed by yet to be arrested gunmen.

    Osinbajo arrived at the Government House at 5:40pm with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Director-General Mustapha Maihaja,  Minister of State Mines and Steel) Bawa Bwari and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, among others. He met with Berom and Fulani community leaders as well as Christians and Islamic leaders.

    Lalong said: “If I say I’m disappointed in this outbreak of violence in the state it is an understatement, I’m greatly shocked that it happened at all because we have set a road map for peace for ourselves in the state. We even launched it so that it will be an official document to guide us in our peace building processes.

    “Shocked because, the Berom and Fulani have agreed to live in peace with one another and in practical terms they have co-existed for the last three years based on that agreement – to put the past behind them and live as a family.

    “I keep telling other communities in the state to emulate the peaceful co-existence between Berom and Fulani in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments.

    “When I was told a few weeks ago of people preparing for attacks in the areas, I never believed it based on the assurances the Berom and Fulani have given me. I met with the security agencies and I was told nothing of such would happen. I left and it happened.

    “I’m happy the Vice President is here with us, I want the Berom leaders and Fulani leaders to tell the Vice President why the peace agreement failed, why the attack came this time. Because they are the same people that have maintained the peace within the last three years, so they know why and how the attack was allowed to occur.

    “I demand that we have a frank talk among ourselves so that at the end of the meeting, solutions will be found from you.”

    Osinbajo said: “I’m so sad because the efforts so far put in place to restore peace in this state are becoming wasted efforts by these killings.

    “I’m under the directive of Mr. President to come here and find out directly from the community leaders and government because the President himself is highly disturbed by the situation in Jos.

    “Mr. President is insisting that whatever it takes to resolve the issue, we must find out the perpetrators of these killings.

    “It’s also unfortunate that people take laws into their hands by blocking highways and attacking innocent travellers. Why do people take pleasure in taking advantage of this situation to cause havoc? Who is benefiting from the blood of victims?

    “This will not be allowed to stand.  I will speak with all the security agencies here before I depart. The Chief of Defence Staff has deployed special forces to take charge in support of the existing special task force in the state.

    “The Federal Government has been giving examples of Jos to other states to emulate and coexist peacefully; that is why the Federal Government is shocked that Plateau will repeat the ugly era they have left in the past.

    “No matter who is wrong or right, we must find a way of peace, this is a condemnable act. No one has licence to kill; it’s criminal. This should not be allowed to continued; we must control it.

    “As we go into this meeting, community leaders should show restraint in what they say so that this issue will not go out of control. We need to nip these things in the bud because we can’t afford any religious conflicts anywhere in the country because no country ever survives religious crisis”

    The meeting then went into a closed-door session.

  • Buhari decries incessant killings in Nigeria

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday decried how “increasingly cheap” human life was becoming in Nigeria.

    He said desperate people pursued their quest for instability and chaos which they hoped would give them an advantage in next year’s elections.

    The President was reacting to last weekend’s clashes in Plateau State where several people were killed.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari said “we know that a number of geographical and economic factors are contributing to the longstanding herdsmen/farmers clashes. But we also know that politicians are taking advantage of the situation. This is incredibly unfortunate.

    “Nigerians affected by the herdsmen/ farmer clashes must always allow the due process of the law to take its course rather than taking matters into their own hands.”

    On the information available to the Presidency, the statement said about 100 cattle had been rustled by a community in Plateau State and some herdsmen were killed in the process.

    “The state governor, Simon Lalong, had invited the aggrieved groups and pleaded against further action while the law enforcement agents looked into the matter. Less than 24 hours later, violence broke out.

    “Some local thugs then took advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity to extort the public, and to attack people from rival political parties. There were reports of vehicles being stopped along the roads in the state, with people being dragged out of their cars and attacked if they stated that they supported certain politicians or political party.

    “On his way back to Jos after attending the All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention in Abuja, the state governor had to dismantle a number of illegal road blocks set up by these thugs. There were also a number of dead bodies thugs had killed, lying along the road.”

  • Plateau killings: ‘How gunmen rained bullets on us’

    A survivor yesterday recounted how gunmen killed 29 people inside the classroom they took refuge to avoid violence.

    Men, women and kids were displaced by communal conflict which started again last month after a few years of peace in the state.

    A survivor, Samson Audu, who is on admission at the Enos Hospital in Miago, the headquarters of Bassa local government, said: “When the gunmen were coming to attack our village, we heard the sound of their guns from the other end of the village, we decided to run for safety. We ran towards soldiers camped at the primary school. The soldiers asked us to run into one of the classrooms, and we responded happily believing that they are armed and could protect us. There were many of us. The classroom was filled. We were over 100 and we thought we were safe, but 30 minutes after, the gunmen came and started firing directly at anyone they could see. Unknown to us, the soldiers that took us there had suddenly disappeared. I received a gunshot on my arm.”

    Another villager, Amos Wakili, who escaped the attack, said: “It was God that prevented me from entering the classroom, because when the soldiers were directing our people into the classroom, something told me that even that place was not safe. I refused to go there and hid inside a bush, that was what saved me. Most of my neighbours and my friends were killed in that classroom.”

    Berom community, which lost a former head of civil service in Plateau State advised the state government to find the killers and prevent another bloodshed.

    Yesterday, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, accompanied by top ranking security officers as well as state government officials; paid a condolence visit to the palace of the paramount ruler of Irigwe Chiefdom, the Bra Ngwe Irigwe in Miango.

    Lalong had an on-the-spot assessment of crisis areas after a security council meeting.

    In one of the IDPs camps at a primary school in Shinge, which is hosting over 2,500 IDPs, Lalong told the IDPs that the government lacked words to express its sadness and frustration over the killings.

    He said: “First, the government is at pain because these attacks are coming after government has laboured to restore peace in all nooks and crannies of the state. We have been enjoying prevailing peace for over two years now and we thought we should make the peace a permanent one until this one.

    “Also sad is the fact that the attack came at the point where farmers were about to harvest the proceeds of their farms in the villages.”

    The governor almost broke down on seeing aged women and children displaced by the gunmen. He urged the inmates at the camp to remain vigilant and be watchful of any strange person who might sneak in to carry out evil acts at the camp.

    “There are suicide bombers everywhere and they have carried out attacks at IDPs camps, so, be conscious of any strange person among you and report such to security agencies immediately,” said Lalong.

    Lalong added: “At a period like this, you have to impress on your people to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies who are out to fish out the attackers.”

    The paramount ruler said “In as much as the people still have confidence in the security agencies, government should ensure those on ground are replaced immediately to avoid a clash between the people and security agencies. Changing this group of security agencies will promote peace in this area because everybody is angry at them and might likely confront them.”

    Ropp District Development Association and Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation of Ropp district urged Lalong to take all necessary measures to fish out the killer of Da Moses Gwom, a former Head of Civil Service who was murdered in his house recently.

    Both organisation represent the entire Berom community of Plateau North senatorial zone of Plateau state.

    A statement jointly signed by Da Joseph Chollom Jock and Da Yusufu Fwam on behalf of the Berom community said: “Prior to the murder of the late Moses Gwom, one inspector Davou Chollom, a Berom man was brutally murdered in Wereh coupled with several other attacks and killings in Ropp district in recent times especially in Sho, Kwok, Gassa, Lobring, Jong, Gafat, Zim etc.

    “In all these attacks, the district lost hundreds of people to the level that the population of people’s of the district has been restricted to internally displaced persons, even as the paramount ruler of Barkin Ladi LGA is more or less a displaced person in his locality.

    The statement appealed to both federal and state governments to come to the rescue by providing security needed for the original inhabitants of the villages to return to their homes, rebuild their homes and continued with farming activities without any hindrance.

     

  • Plateau Killings: Community urges govt. to lift curfew

    Plateau Killings: Community urges govt. to lift curfew

    The Irigwe community in Bassa Local Government of Plateau has called on the state government to lift the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the area following incessant midnight attacks on its rural settlements.

    Mr Sunday Abdu, National President, Irigwe Community Development Association, made the call at a press briefing on Monday in Jos.

    The Plateau government, on Friday, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bassa Local Government as part of measures to curtail the midnight attacks.

    According to the Plateau Police Command, scores of people have been killed in the attacks that started three weeks ago, with Ncha village recording 26 deaths in the first major attack.

    Further attacks took place in Taegbe village where six people were killed and several others injured, while Miango Jebu took its turn last week, losing five youths to the assailants.

    Kpachudu, Nkiedonwhron and Nzhwerivo villages were also attacked at the weekend, with unconfirmed reports indicating that scores were killed in their sleep.

    Abdu, who spoke on the situation in the affected areas, said that the curfew had not achieved its goal of reducing the spate of attacks.

    “We had a sense of relief when the curfew was imposed, but it has only made it easier for the attackers to operate unhindered, while our people are caged by it.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Kpachudu and Nzhwerivo villages, where 29 people were killed while taking refuge in a primary school, were attacked on the first and second days of the curfew.

    “The siege has continued; our conclusion is that the curfew was only for our people, not the attackers.

    “If government must keep the curfew, it should be ready to enforce it. Alternatively, it should be lifted so that our people can defend themselves or, at least, be able to run away from the attackers,” he said.

    He also lamented that the heavy presence of security personnel in the area had not benefited the locals, and urged security men deployed to protect the people to “do more”.

    Abdu expressed regret that members of the community had abandoned their farms for fear of being killed, saying that some were already dying of hunger as even markets were not accessible.

    He also wondered why government had not assisted the community with any form of relief materials since the attacks began, and urged Plateau people to join hands to protect the state from invaders.

    Meanwhile, Mr Suleiman Kwande, House of Representatives member, who represents Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, has called on the Federal Government to investigate the Bassa killings and bring the perpetrators to book.

    Kwande, in a press statement issued on Monday in Jos, described the serial attacks as “shocking and unfortunate”.

    The lawmaker said that the attacks were too many, and urged government to “act fast to save the lives and properties of innocent people”.

    He called on the Federal Government to set up a special committee to particularly investigate the fresh killing of 29 people, who were taking refuge in a primary school.

    Kwande also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected victims to cushion the effect of the attacks on their families.

    Reacting to the call to lift the curfew, Mr Dan Manjang, Special Adviser to Plateau Governor on Media and Publicity, said that the decision to lift the curfew was not a prerogative of the governor.

    “The dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on the advice of the security council which comprises the Police, SSS, Special Task Force and other key stakeholders.

    “We have heard the complaint of the people. We shall sit down at the same security council and look at it on its merit before taking a decision,” he said.

    Manjang described the persistent attacks as “deplorable”, and promised that all that was necessary would be done to end them.

    “We are not happy with what is happening; the governor is so worried about the attacks. We have tried a lot to check them and shall continue to put in our best until there is peace in Plateau,” he said.

    The official, however, said that government was not aware that people taking refuge in a primary school were attacked and killed.

    “People should be in their houses while the curfew is in place. They should defy any order to go to any primary school because government is not aware of that,” he said. (NAN)

  • Buhari condemns Plateau killings

    Buhari condemns Plateau killings

    •Says state must not allow return of disorder

    President Muhammadu Buhari is saddened by what he calls the senseless killing of persons, especially women and children in Thursday night attack on Ancha village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    At least 19 people were killed during the attack believed to have been a reprisal by Fulani herdsmen.

    Buhari, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, is equally disappointed by the disruption of peace and normalcy in the state caused by the attack.

    He urged stakeholders not to allow the violent incident to destroy the progress made so far.

    “It is unlawful of anyone or group to take the laws into their hands in the name of revenge or reprisals, rather than follow due process by allowing law enforcement agencies to fish out any such aggressors who will be made to face justice,” Shehu quoted the President as saying.

    “The various communities in the state have taken many steps, with the support of security agencies and mediators to pull the state back from the brink of anarchy and senseless killings warranted by attacks and counterattacks. “It will be a painful loss to allow these unsavoury acts to return,” he said and asked all communities in the state and other parts of the country to “embrace peace and bring to a stop these painful and unnecessary killings.”

    The president reiterated the determination of the federal government to protect the lives and property of all citizens, wherever they reside.

    He directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the Plateau killings and their sponsors irrespective of their social or political standing.

    He prayed God to grant peace to the souls of the victims and comfort to the grieving families and community.

     

  • Buhari condemns Plateau killings

    Buhari condemns Plateau killings

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday expressed sadness at the senseless killing of persons, especially women and children in a night attack on Ancha village, Bassa local government area of Plateau State.

    The President, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also expressed disappointment at the disruption of peace and normalcy that had reasonably taken root in the state.

    He urged stakeholders not to allow the incident to destroy the progress made so far in the state

    He said: “It is unlawful of anyone or group to take the laws into their hands in the name of revenge or reprisals, rather than follow due process by allowing law enforcement agencies to fish out any such aggressors who will be made to face justice.

    “The various communities in the state have taken many steps, with the support of security agencies and mediators to pull the state back from the brink of anarchy and senseless killings warranted by attacks and counterattacks.

    “It will be a painful loss to allow these unsavoury acts to return. I urge all our communities in the state and the other parts of the country to embrace peace and bring to a stop these painful and unnecessary killings.”

    The President further reiterated the determination of the Federal Government to protect the lives and property of all citizens, wherever they reside, while directing law enforcement agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the Plateau killings and whoever their sponsors may be.

  • Gunmen kill 20 in fresh Plateau attack

    Gunmen kill 20 in fresh Plateau attack

    Unknown gunmen struck again in two local governments of plateau state killing at least 20 people last Tuesday night.

    Four villages were attacked in Riyom local government, Gwon, Gwarama, Gwarim and Torok all in Rim district. While one village, Gida Bua, was attacked in Langtang South local government of Plateau state

    I6 persons were allegedly burned to death and 200 homes razed in the attack in Riyom LGA. While four people were said to have lost their lives in the Langtang South attack.

    A 65 old man, Habila Dachung who lost his aged wife in the attack in Riyom alleged that fulani herdsmen and soldiers of the special task force on Jos, are the prime suspects in the attack. “I saw them in military uniform” he said “These armed Fulanis, accompanied by Soilders stormed our village to kill our people just like that, their gun woke us from sleep at about 2:30am.”

    Majority leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly and member representing Riyom constituency confirmed the attack. He said the victims are mostly women and children.

    Hon Dem said, “I also believe the Special Task force deployed to restore law and order are also involved in the killings taking place in the communities, if not, most of the Villages were attacked in the presence of men of the STF based in those villages, why are they not going after the attackers if they are not involved in the attack”

    The villagers have renewed their call on the federal government for the withdrawal of the military troops from the entire state. They believed the government soldiers are the real enemies.

    The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed the attack but decline comment on the casualty figures.

    However, the special task force (STF) on Jos crisis code named ‘Operation Safe Heaven’ has refused to comment on recent attacks in the state since January this year when attacks became frequent and widespread. Commander of the STF Major General David Enetie was alleged to have closed the media office of the task force where newsmen go to confirm facts on such attacks.

    The task force has kept sealed lips in spite of all allegations against men of the force. The soldiers have been widely accused of facilitating most of the attacks in which over 80 people were killed in the last two months.

  • Langtang: Reps task FG on herdsmen activities

    Langtang: Reps task FG on herdsmen activities

    The House of Representatives in Abuja on Thursday urged the Federal Government to set up a panel to address the growing incidences of attacks on citizens by nomadic herdsmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the House mandated its Committee on Defence to check the activities of the Special Task Force in Langtang North and South local government councils of Plateau.

    It further mandated the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure the completion of the Kadarko Police Mobile Barrack to strengthen security in the areas.

    It condemned the killings of innocent persons and the destruction of property in Langtang South Local Government Area of the state.

    The resolution followed a motion moved by Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau), which was adopted without debate.

    NAN recalls that on June 27, nomadic herdsmen allegedly attacked and killed 70 persons in Magama, Bolgang, and Karkashi communities in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau.

    According to Lar, the incessant attacks have become a recurring situation in both Langtang North and Langtang South local government areas with the recent being the most deadly of all previous attacks.