10 Killed, 20 Houses Torched in Plateau…

In a related development, least 10 persons were yesterday killed and over 20 houses burnt in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State following hostilities between the Fulani herdsmen and the natives.

Also, the anti-bomb squad of the state’s Police Command on the same day defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) close to the resident of a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheik Yahaya Jingir in Jos.

The renewed hostilities between the Fulanis in Mangu and the natives started early this week when three persons were beheaded in Kantoma Village in the area, on Wednesday. THISDAY gathered that the Fulanis suspected to be on revenge mission swooped on Shurun Village and killed ten people before razing over 20 houses in the early morning attack.

An eyewitness said the gunmen whose arrival was heralded by sporadic gunshots scared most of the residents causing them, especially the women to flee into the bush for safety, adding that the attackers were aided by the Fulanis living within the village and other surrounding villages.

He said: "It is quite worrisome that some of the gunmen have been identified as the Fulani herdsmen living within our communities. They carried out these deadly attacks and got back to their huts unharmed. The calibre of arms and ammunitions used by the attackers showed that it was well co-ordinated to eliminate us.”

When contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, DSP Abuh Emmanuel said he was yet to get full details of the attack from the Divisional Police Officer DPO of the area.

Meanwhile, Jingri and his followers, who had gathered in large number to celebrate the Eid-el-Maulud narrowly escaped death.

The Special Task Force (STF) Media Officer, Captain Iweha Ikedichi, who confirmed the incident, said the bomb was probably planted in the area on Thursday ahead of the Friday festival. He said immediately it was discovered the entire vicinity was condoned off and men of the state anti-bomb squad were invited to defuse the bomb.

He enjoined people of the state to be extra careful and report any suspected objects or movements to the security agencies for prompt action.