How gunmen shot 7 in Plateau bar
The killings in a village bar might lead to fear of renewed attacks in Plateau State.
At about 7:30pm, last Sunday night, a group of middle-aged men and a woman were relaxing at a local alcohol bar for their normal evening banters when their merriment was interrupted by gun-wielding attackers.
The drinking joint where Burkutu, a locally-brewed alcoholic drink is sold, is located in Nding village, Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Peter Adamu was lucky when the attackers arrived at the bar on the night of the incident. He escaped with a bullet wound but seven other including a woman believed to be the owner of the bar were not so lucky.
Adamu said after the armed men opened fire on the shanty bar they spared some time to set the place on fire and by the next day, all that was left was trails of blood, burnt roofing zinc and dirt.
Adamu who has returned to the village after receiving treatment told journalists that he had gone to the bar with some friends and shortly after settling in, the gunshots had descended from all angles. “I started running. I didn’t even know how I was shot in the leg. But it happened while I was trying to escape. I saw a rock and hid behind it. That was how I was able to survive,” he narrated.
He, however, said the attackers who he saw from his hiding spot were five.
Jacob Pam, a resident of Fan said that those who were killed had been confused to either lie on the ground or run. Pam explained to Daily Trust on Sunday that “many people in our communities are living in fear that the attackers may return and we have advised our people to stop gathering at such places.”
The Plateau State Command Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Tyopev Terna also confirmed the death of the seven people whom have since been given a mass burial. According to Media and Information Officer, Operation Safe Haven, (OPSH), Major Adam Umar, the initial death toll had been five but two others later died in the hospital.
He said the incident had been reported by Pam Jack, the youth leader of the community and explained that the attackers were suspected herders. He said the police had recovered two expended shells of 7.62mm ammunition from the scene while investigation was ongoing.
However, the Member representing Barkin Ladi Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng who visited the scene gave a new dimension to the attack when he said there was an existing disagreement between some members of the community and some Fulanis. Gyendeng stated that, “It was a fight between a Fulani herdsman and one of our people, and both of them sustained injuries.”
He said he had discussed the matter with the Police DPO in charge of the area as well as the Sector Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).
“They have given an order for the arrest of the person that threatened that they must revenge and I strongly believe that the security men are on it, and we have told our people that once the arrest is made, we will ensure that all the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.
Major Umar said though the taskforce was not aware of an existing quarrel between the Beroms and Fulanis, the matter will be investigated and stressed that it will continue to initiate dialogue between the parties. He explained that the major challenge faced by security men was the lack of timely and accurate information from communities and urged youths to form vigilante groups and ensure on early warning.
With Plateau’s crisis shifted to Bassa local government area in the last one year, the Nding attack came at a time when Barkin Ladi along with its neighbouring Riyom and Jos South local government areas were experiencing some peace.
Many feared that unless something drastic is quickly done, the conflict may follow patterns where Berom and Fulani youths were engulfed in reprisal attacks.
This fear became more pronounced when a day after the Nding attack, over 60 cattle belonging to the Fulanis were said to have been rustled in Barkin Ladi. The National Chairman of Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association, Saidu Maikano and the North Central Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Chiroma said over 90 cattle belonging to two Fulanis were rustled.
However, Major Umar said the taskforce was aware of 64 cattle suspected to have been rustled a day after the Nding attack. Umar said the taskforce had alerted all its locations and checkpoints to be on the lookout for the cattle and the suspected rustlers but appealed to the owners not to take laws into their hands.
But Chiroma in a phone conversation with Daily Trust on Sunday said MACBAN was saddened by the recent events in Barkin Ladi and urged security agents to do everything possible to fish out the attackers of Nding.
The MACBAN leader called on Fulani leaders in the villages to ensure that bad eggs among them are flushed out and suspects are reported to security agencies.
His words however did little to appease the Berom as Jacob Pam said MACBAN must take responsibility for the actions of its youths or fish out the perpetrators.
Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments witnessed one of the state’s prolonged crises between the Beroms and Fulanis despite decades of living together and the Nding killings might lead to a resurgence.