- Mutfwang visits attacked communities, vows to end killings
- Fish out killers from hills, mountains, forests, ex-military governor tasks security agents
A father and his two sons were killed on Friday as bandits attacked Zogu village, Miango in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The latest incident occurred less than one week after a similar attack in Bokkos villages claimed more than 50 lives.
The incident coincided with a call by the Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities and coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the government and security agencies to end the spate of Killings across the state.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, vowed during the visits he paid to some of the affected communities yesterday to bring the killings to an end.
National Publicity Secretary of Irigwe Development Association(IDA) (IDA), Sam Jugo, said in a statement that 56 years old Weyi Gebeh and his two sons, Zhu Weyi, 25, and Henry Weyi, 16, were killed when the bandits invaded the community early Friday morning.
The statement said: “This recent event brings to nine the deaths recorded this week alone.
“IDA expresses its utmost displeasure on the deteriorating situation in Irigwe land and calls on the security agencies to do whatever is required to halt this barbarism on our land and perpetrators apprehended to face justice.”
The community leader expressed dismay at “the way criminal elements invade our motherland and kill with impunity,” saying it seemed to suggest a more sinister motive than mere reprisal for alleged wrongs.
“IDA therefore calls on the Plateau State Government and the security to do the needful and stop the killing of innocent people in Irigwe land,” the statement added.
The leadership of Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities in Jos and the coalition of CSOs also called for concerted efforts to end the incessant bloodbath on the Plateau.
Addressing reporters in separate briefings at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos, the two groups said it had become obvious that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts were out to cleanse the entire ethnic groups in the state.
The CSO coalition also called for Justice, protection and global support to end the killings and prevent the indigenous communities from total annihilation.
Chairman, Plateau State Civil Society Organization Forum, Rev. Chris Damcher, and representative of the Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities, Prof Abraham Dogo, who both spoke at the press briefings, expressed anger at what they described as attempts to totally annihilate all the ethnic groups on the Plateau.
Dogo said: “On Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, our peace-loving and hardworking farmers in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State were once again attacked in a senseless and brutal massacre.
“These innocent and defenceless citizens were mercilessly killed by suspected armed and deadly herders/terrorists — agents of destruction who have no regard for human life, law, or peaceful coexistence.
“We demand justice. We demand protection. We demand peace.
“We stand today in grief, but not in defeat. We will continue to raise our voices until the lives of every Nigerian, regardless of tribe or faith, are valued and protected.”
On his part, the chairman of the CSOs coalition said: “We stand with the communities in Bokkos and pray that soon and very soon they will return to their communities with the setting in of the rains tor the farming season.
“We pray for the reign of peace in our dear state as we declare that enough of the bloodshed and bloodletting in Plateau State.
Mutfwang visits attacked communities, vows to end killings
Governor Mutfwang yesterday visited the various communities that were recently attacked by gunmen in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The governor, who commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones, promised to ensure safety of lives and property.
Mutfwang, who described the attacks as a deliberate move to keep the people in perpetual poverty, called on the people to be united and vigilant.
“I have come to see things for myself, so as to know the next line of action. It will enable me to report back to the President so as to prevent a repeat of this ugly incident.
“It is God that put all of you here. No one can drive you away. All that is happening is to frighten you to abandon your land.
“These happenings are (meant) to prevent all of you from farming. It is not just about killing people, but to ensure that we remain poor. But we will resist it,” he said.
The governor also promised to improve the condition of basic amenities such as road networks, electricity, portable water, mobile services, among others in the communities.
Mutfwang called on the youths of the area to shun all criminal acts and unite to defend their communities against further attacks.
The governor commended the people for their resilience, particularly for not abandoning their homes and promised to support them to rebuild their damaged houses.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his genuine concern towards the safety of the people of the state.
“We are grateful to the President for his concern for our people. The President has no intention to colonise our people but to unite them.
“He has demonstrated his genuine love for Plateau in this trying time and he is doing everything to end this circle of attacks,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Raymond Alo, the District Head of Manguna, thanked the governor for visiting the affected communities in person.
He also thanked the governor for providing foodstuff and other items for those that were displaced during the attacks.
He, however, called on the state government to provide building materials to enable those whose homes were destroyed to rebuild them in no distant time.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on April 2, gunmen attacked Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and other communities in Manguna District of the locality.
More than 40 persons were killed, 383 houses were destroyed, and 1,000 persons were displaced following the attack.
Fish out killers from hills, mountains, forests, ex-military governor tasks security agents
A former military governor of Plateau State, Rear-Admiral Samuel Bitrus Atukum (rtd), has urged security operatives to fish out the brains behind the killing of innocent persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Speaking to reporters at his residence in Jos, Atukum alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to erase the people of Plateau State from the surface of the earth by constant attacks on citizens.
He urged the Federal Government to take decisive actions against the attackers of the innocent persons by declaring them as terrorists.
“These criminals, who are well known according to locals, come from the hills. I am urging our security operatives to go up there and smoke them out from where they are hibernating.
“In the past, they used to deceive us with herders-farmer clashes. How can you have a clash in somebody’s bedroom? These people go into people’s bedroom in the villages and attack them unprovoked.
“Some of these hills and mountains are being inhabited by these killer herdsmen.
“What is the difficulty in ordering security operatives to go all out and smoke them out from their hideouts?
“These people come down from these hills, wreak havoc and disappear into thin air, and that is where I believe they hide their weapons,” he declared.
The former governor urged security operatives to do more. “But in doing more, we should look at the legislation that should have been in place.
“These people who are killing our innocent people should be labelled as terrorists. Why have we been shying away from that?
“Instead, other people who commit less serious offence are charged with this kind of offence.
“So, I think the number one action to be taken is to declare these people as terrorists.”
The former military governor also advocated for state policing.
