The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Plateau

  • STF confirms killing of grandma, 13 others in Plateau

    STF confirms killing of grandma, 13 others in Plateau

    The military Special Task Force in Plateau on Friday confirmed the murder of 14 persons in separate attacks on some rural communities in the state between Wednesday and Thursday.

    The STF said in a statement that among those murdered was a 75-year-old woman in Sara village of Riyom Local Government Area.

    The statement, signed by the STF media officer, Lt. Kingsley Egbo, said: “The old woman was killed along with her three children.’’

    It said gunmen also attacked and wiped out a family of eight at a remote village, near Sop in Makera and two others at Lotton village in Jol, Riyom Local Government Area.

    The statement said the task force had got a lead on the possible attackers and was making efforts to arrest the suspects.

    The STF also said that its personnel had arrested some herdsmen, who allegedly attacked farmers working on their farms at Rarin-Sho village of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area.

    “When we received reports of the attack, we quickly moved into Sho village and engaged the assailants in a gun battle which led to the arrest of some of the attackers.

    “We also recovered some of their weapons while many others escaped with gunshot wounds. The suspects are currently being interrogated,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted STF as saying in the statement.

    It said a fresh problem arose on Thursday in Barkin-Ladi over the pulling down of the fence of a prayer ground, which had been in contention for some time.

    “During the rampage, a young man was beaten to a state of coma and his motorcycle burnt around Ungwan-Sarki area of the town.

    “The STF immediately moved to the area, rescued the victim and conveyed him to Barkin-Ladi General Hospital while the situation has been brought under control,’’ the statement said.

    The task force warned the people against disrupting the peace and vowed to deal with those who fomented trouble.

     

  • Gunmen kill three in Plateau attacks

    •Council imposes curfew

    Three residents of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State have been killed. Another person was injured in fresh attacks by unknown gunmen in the area.

    Daniel Alamba and Joseph Luka were killed by unknown gunmen on Monday morning in Sho village of Barkin Ladi. Another man was killed a few hours later as Berom youths and Fulani regrouped for a reprisal attacks.

    The fresh killings came two days after another senator was elected to replace the late Senator Gyang Dantong, who was killed in an attack two months ago.

    The lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi in the House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani, was killed by unknown gunmen in a similar attack. He was replaced by his wife in last week’s by-election.

    An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said: “Three people on a motorcycle on the road between Sho village and Barkin Ladi at 7am on Tuesday morning were ambushed and killed. Two of them died instantly while the third one escaped with bullet wounds.”

    The injured was identified as Solomon Yusuf. He is said to be receiving treatment at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital.

    Suspecting that the attackers were Fulani, some Berom youths, the local ethnic group, launched a reprisal in which they allegedly killed a Fulani.

    The eyewitness added: “As armed Berom youths in Sho village prepared to do battle, a group of Fulani youths also mobilised and attempted to demolish the only bridge linking Sho village with Barkin Ladi. The intention to destroy the bridge was to prevent any intruder into the village and deprive security agencies from entering the area. Then, they would have gone back to the village for a battle with the Berom youths.

    “But while attempting to bring down the bridge, security agencies moved in to safe the situation. The attackers fled on sighting security vehicles.”

    To prevent any attack at night, the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Emmanuel Loman, has imposed a curfew on the affected villages.

    The curfew is between 8pm and 5am, beginning from yesterday. It is expected to continue indefinitely until normalcy is restored.

    Police spokesman Emmanuel Abuh, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), confirmed the incident.

    He said the police had not arrested any suspect on the incident.

    Abuh said the command has begun investigations into the attacks and has also deployed armed policemen to secure the areas.

    The SpecialTask Force (STF) on Jos Crises, code named OperationSafe Haven, last month, midwifed a reconciliation meeting between Berom and Fulani community leaders.

    It said this was to stop further bloodshed among the two ethnic groups.

    They reached an agreement to end hostility in the area and embrace peace.