Plateau attacks: Women torch district head’s house, police arrest 8
Attacked traditional ruler goes into hiding There must be conclusive victory, Tinubu charges service chiefs
Protesting women yesterday afternoon burnt down the house of a traditional ruler in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Michal Monday Adanchi.
According to sources from the area, Adanchi is the district head of Bokkos town.
Daily Trust Saturday learnt that the women were protesting against the traditional ruler for allegedly being a sellout following the arrest of eight youths in connection with the recent killings in the area.
Sources said the women burnt the traditional ruler’s residence and his administrative office following the arrest of some members of the community for their alleged involvement in the recent silent killings in the area.
Our correspondent reports that there has been a controversy over the identity of the attackers of over 20 communities in Bokos and adjoining LGAs which led to the killing of over 190 people.
While Governor Caleb Mutfwang had shortly after the incidents described the attackers as terrorists, locals in the areas alleged that it was herdsmen that were behind it, a development which the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders (MACBAN) denied.
Even though the police confirmed arrest of some of the suspects behind the attacks, they were short of giving out their identities to pressmen.
Latest development
One of our sources with knowledge of recent developments said: “The incident began at the police station where they expressed their anger over the arrest of some members of the community. After leaving the police station, they proceeded to the house of the traditional ruler, protesting that he was a sellout. He betrayed them, siding with herders. Few minutes after arriving at the house, they set it ablaze,” the source said.
Our correspondent reports that soldiers were deployed to the area to disperse the protesting women.
The spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven maintaining peace in the area confirmed the incident, adding that everything had been brought under control.
Police arrest 8 suspects over killings in Bokkos
Earlier on Thursday, the state police command confirmed the arrest of eight persons in connection with the recent incidents in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas.
DSP Alfred Alabo, the police public relations officer in the state, disclosed the arrest of the suspects in Jos, stating that efforts were being made to ensure the arrest of anyone
found guilty in the incident.
He added that the command was working round the clock to restore peace in the affected communities, calling on residents to remain calm.
Isolated attacks, killings persist despite assurances
Despite the pronouncements by security agencies, isolated incidents of killing have continued unabated, with reports indicating that people are losing their lives every day in the affected villages.
The recent isolated killings being experienced in the villages of Bokkos followed the Christmas eve attacks that claimed the lives of over 190 persons, including women and children.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that on Sunday, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, along with the service chiefs, visited the state.
Their visit was aimed at assessing the security situation and expressing sympathy for the recent attacks. During their visit to one of the affected communities, the service chiefs vowed to put an end to the needless killings in the state.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in a response to the growing violence in the state, has initiated a special operation to prevent future attacks on communities and directed a temporary relocation of AIG Zone 4, Haladu Aliyu, to the state for a more effective operation.
However, despite these efforts, there have been reports of isolated incidents of killing since the aftermath of the December 24 attacks.
Sources from the affected communities told Daily Trust Saturday that the emergence of the isolated killings are generating tensions and fear within the area, with each of the warring parties moving only within their comfort zones.
John James, a resident of the Bokkos community said, “The recent isolated killings being experienced in the communities are a source of concern. Farmers can no longer go to the farm. The herders too can no longer move everywhere. Everyone prefers to remain at his comfort zone for fear of being killed.”
incidents
Four isolated recorded in 4 days
Since Monday, four herders were confirmed killed, including the Chief Imam of Jumma’at Mosque of Ndun village, Tangur district of Bokkos Local Government Area, Malam Muhammad Sani Idris, who was attacked alongside his younger brother, Salisu Muhammad Sani, who was injured and currently receiving treatment at Dung Hospital in Bokkos town.
On Tuesday, a motorcyclist, Muhammad Gambo, was also killed in Bokkos town. The killers were reported to have gone with his motorcycle.
On Thursday, Daily Trust reported how another Fulani herder, Nuhu Adam was killed in Mortal community of Bokkos district while he was returning from farm.
On Friday, another corpse of a herder, Nuhu Kareje, was found in Bokkos town around a new layout while he was on his way to Hurti village of Manguna district, where he was residing
Military arrest, detain our members for no reason – Bokkos youth
Meanwhile, Bokkos Progressive Youths are decrying the arrest and detention of their members by the military in the area, saying the action of the military was a violation of human rights.
In a press statement on Wednesday, signed by Christopher Luka Tulladem, the youth condemned the arrest of their youths, and called the federal government to investigate the activities of the military in the area.
Part of the statement reads, “Since the sad event happened, we have witnessed continuous arrest, detention and brutalisation of victims who managed to escape the horror of the attackers. In most cases, these victims have suffered incapacitation and bullet wounds from the same army who are supposed to protect them.
“The rate of this violation has taken a dramatic dimension since January 3, 2024 with the continuous dehumanising and brutal treatment meted out on our youths.
“While we condemn all criminality in whatever guise, we are quick to mention here that the manner of operation by the military seems to target a particular faith,” the statement added.
Tinubu to security chiefs: There must be conclusive victory
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked security chiefs to ensure that there is conclusive victory against the myriad of security threats facing the country.
The president said this on Friday while addressing security chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies at a presidential security briefing at the State House, Abuja.
President Tinubu said while good progress was being made with the elimination of some security threats across multiple theatres, success would ultimately be defined by a final conclusion to the multi-dimensional menace.
The president, who further warned against a repeat of avoidable bombing of civilians in Kaduna State, lauded the current synergy among security agencies.
“We have too many investments we need to make now in soft and physical infrastructure, in social security, in MSME empowerment and other growth enablers. We are pursuing a $1 trillion economy in the next few years and our efforts will be undermined if we do not finally wrap up our progressive onslaught against enemies of progress. Be encouraged. The confidence of our people in your capacity is rising, and they are appreciative of the sacrifices of our men and women.
“The success you are recording is undeniable. Nigerians are seeing it, but the avoidable errors, as witnessed recently in Kaduna, are unacceptable and cannot be repeated.
“I am pleased that coordination between all agencies has dramatically improved over recent months, but there is no room for celebrations until we can end this until we can bring our troops back to their own localities, and until we can free up resources for our critical economic expansion programme,” the president noted in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
He charged security agencies to sustain the momentum, stating that, “Failure is not an option under my leadership.”
President Tinubu also stressed that the armed forces must deliver on his objective to ensure that the country achieves a sustainable production of two million barrels of crude oil per day, including condensates, within the first quarter of 2024.
“I do not play with my intelligence reports. I have multiple lines of sight. The Navy and sister branches must step up their game to achieve our aims for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“All malign actors will be aggressively uprooted from our midst. Those working against the national agenda from within and without will meet justice. Your task is clear. We will sustain our momentum. Failure is not an option under my leadership,” he warned.
The president also commended the commander of the Presidential Air fleet (PAF), the commander of the Brigade of Guards (BoG), and his Chief Personal Security Officer (CPSO), for their dedication and commitment in the discharge of their assignments, which has earned them a promotion.