4 killed in Plateau herders’ attack-Police
The police in Plateau State yesterday said three persons were killed by suspected herdsmen in Bassa Local Government Area late Thursday.
This came as youths from Rafin Bauna, a Hausa community in Bassa, also told journalists yesterday that a youth was beheaded on the same day by suspected Irigwe youths.
Thursday’s killings followed the killing of five persons, three of who were Irigwe and two Fulani as confirmed by the Operation Safe Haven security outfit.
Police spokesman, ASP Tyopev Terna, said three persons were killed and eight were injured in renewed hostilities in Jebu-Bassa, adding that the victims included Danlami Gomaster of Kwall district and Emmanuel Audu of JebbuMiango.
He said eight persons were taken to Enos Hospital in Bassa for medical treatment while about 20 houses were set ablaze.
However, Aminu Yahaya who spoke on behalf of the Rafin Bauna community, said, “We were held hostage for two days by armed Irigwe youths. They came in their hundreds and surrounded the community, they killed one of our youths and left with the head. Among them is a security agent who once worked in the community.”
Yahaya said the intervention of security agents had forced the attackers to flee, adding, “They burnt the house of one of our leaders who lives on the hill and went ahead to attack nearby Fulani settlements. Yahaya however said with the reinforcement dozens of security agents, they were able to leave their homes.
Denying the allegations, the spokesperson of Irigwe Development Association, Ive Gulu, told Daily Trust on phone that nothing of such had happened. He stressed that the Irigwe had all along been the victims of attacks. Gulu said the allegations peddled against them were to justify continued attacks, adding that they had all along suspected the influx of herdsmen and their militia in Rafin Bauna but security agents had never gone there to clear them.
Operation Safe Haven Media and Information Officert, Major Adam Umar, told Daily Trust that there was a clash between residents and some Fulani. He could not comment on the casualty figure, but stressed that reinforcement had since moved into Bassa.
Earlier, Governor Simon Lalong expressed sadness at the spate of insecurity in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs and urged all peace loving citizens to be vigilant and sensitive to strange elements around them.
Lalong in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity Dan Manjang described the recent violent hostilities as unfortunate and condemnable, adding that government would do everything humanly possible within its mandate to secure lives and properties of its citizens.