Tears in Plateau as gunmen kill 11, burn 50 houses

macfranc007 March 10, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- Eleven people have been killed in two villages in Plateau state

- The victims were said to have been killed in Ganda village of Daffo District in Bokkos local government area and Miango village in Bassa local government area

- The attack also took place few hours after President Muahmmadu Buhari visited Plateau to commission a peace building agency

Eleven people have been killed in fresh attacks in two villages in Plateau state on Friday, March 9.

The clash between suspected herdsmen and farmers in Ganda village of Daffo District in Bokkos local government area and Miango village in Bassa local government area occurred few hours after the inauguration of the Plateau state Peace Building Agency by President Muhammadu Buhari in Jos, Plateau state capital city.

Confirming the clash, the spokesperson for the Miango Youth Development Association, Lawrence Zongo, said five people were killed in the village.

Identifying the victims of the clash as - Emmanuel Joseph (16), Christopher Joseph (16), Peace Joseph (6), Henry Audu (25), Illa Isa Peter (52) - Zongo said two of them were set of twins.

Vanguard reports that the youth leaders also said that a four-year old boy, Cenka Amos, was injured in the clash.

He said Amos is currently receiving treatment at the Enos Hospital, Miango.

Zongo said: “What happened to us is very bad, (it happened) despite the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari. The state government has been preaching peace but Plateau State went up in flames. Five persons, including a set of twins (Emmanuel Joseph and Christopher Joseph) and their brother, Peace Joseph, were killed.

“We have been devastated and shocked. Despite all the peace meetings with the Fulani people, the assailants keep killing our innocent people without provocation. It is sad that the military cannot arrest the Fulani persons behind the killings. The government has failed in protecting lives and property of citizens. Our demand is that the perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted.”

Also speaking on the incident, the a former Plateau state House of Assembly member, Sunday Abdu the attack which began on Thursday, lasted till the early hours of Friday.

"The bodies of the five killed people have been deposited at the hospital morgue. We are no longer in a hurry to bury our dead. Whenever we are going to bury them, we will let you people know.

“The Fulani herdsmen are killing us but they are the ones crying. What kind of pretence is that? I still appeal to the security personnel not to relent, but to step up vigilance and surveillance to stop this pogrom and unwarranted carnage," Abdu said.

The spokesperson for Bokkos local government area, Jerry Datim, confirmed the attack in Ganda village.

Datim said over 50 houses were razed while six people were killed and many others injured.

He called for assistance from the federal and state governments to provide adequate protection for residents of the communities.

Also confirming the killings, the spokesperson for the Plateau state police command, Matthias Tyopev, gave the names of the victims of the clash.

Although some name were different from those listed by Zongo Matthias said: “Yesterday (Thursday), March 8, 2018, at about 8 pm, some unknown gunmen attacked and killed four Irigwe people at Datanko village and one Fulani Christian at Nzharuvo village in Miango District. The deceased persons were identified as Emmanuel Joseph (male, 16 years), Christopher Joseph (male, 16 years), Peace Joseph (male, six years), Henry Audu (male, 25 years) and Samuel Isah (male, 48 years).

“Meanwhile, Samuel Isah has been buried, while four other corpses have been deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital’s mortuary. Chenka Amos, four, is still lying unconscious at Enos Private Hospital, Miango. The investigation is in progress; intensive patrol is being sustained," he added.

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NAIJ.com earlier reported that President Buhari while visiting Jos on Thursday, March 8, said the cycle of violence across the country must come to an end.

The president urged all traditional leaders in the state to take charge of peace keeping and building programmes in Plateau state.

He said the federal government is committed to supporting and assisting the peace building agency in its effort to arrest the vicious cycle of violence and lay the foundation for sustainable peace in our country.

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