11 confirmed killed in fresh Plateau attack

Some persons suspected to be herdsmen in the early hours of yesterday killed no fewer than five people at Miango, Bassa Council of Plateau State.

People, also suspected to be herdsmen, killed six other persons in Ganda village of Dafu District in Bokkos Council.

National President of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Sunday Abdu, confirmed the figure in the Miango attack to journalists in Jos yesterday.

The attacks came as President Muhammadu Buhari was concluding his first official visit to the state.

Abdu said: “It is true that five people were killed in Miango by Fulani herdsmen in an attack, which took place Thursday night and lasted till the early part of yesterday morning.

“Others were wounded in the unprovoked attack. The bodies of the five 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 herdsmen are killing us, but they are the ones crying. What kind of pretext is that? I still appeal to the security personnel not to relent, but step up more vigilance and surveillance to stop this pogrom and unwarranted carnage.”

Also confirming the attack and killing, spokesman of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major Adam Umar, said when the incident happened, the people alerted the OPSH personnel, who responded swiftly and mobilised to the scene.

He added that before the soldiers got to the scene, the attackers had fled. He added that troops were fully in charge of the area, as patrols have been intensified, with a view to arresting the perpetrators.

Umar also appealed to the people to always be vigilant and security-conscious by reporting any strange object or movement to the nearest security agency for prompt attention.

Mr. Matawa Mankut, a community leader in Bokkos, while confirming the attack on Ganda village, yesterday afternoon, said: “We are at the burial ground in Ganda village to give the deceased a mass burial.

“Our appeal to both the state and federal governments is that they should not relent in their efforts to safeguard the lives and property of the villagers.

“Yes, there is relative peace in Plateau State generally, but those of us in the villages are facing fire.

“In fact, this is a holocaust aimed at annihilating our race. So, they should come and assist us and should not leave us in the lurch.”