An 86-year-old man, Joshua Deme, had reportedly been killed by armed men on his farm in Rahwol Gasa, Barkin Ladi, of Plateau State.

According to the reports, the elderly man was working on his farm when he was attacked by armed men who were fleeing the area.

It was gathered that the attackers tied the old man to a tree and slaughtered him.
National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the incident, claimed that Elder Deme was murdered by terrorists.

Tengwong said the deceased was transplanting his hot pepper without knowing that the terrorists with cows were being driven away for the destruction of farmlands around the Rahwol area.

He said: “The deceased became a victim of the attackers who took hold of him, tied him to a tree and slaughtered him. It is very appalling that terrorists have continued to abuse open grazing for the destruction of farmlands, and killing people without any form of provocation.

“Such could warrant the ongoing genocide, sacking and occupation of villages and communities, destruction of farmlands on a large scale, among others.

“BYM condemns in its entirety the killing of Baba Joshua Deme and urges the security agents, particularly sector 4 Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) to sustain its ongoing effort in dealing with terrorist elements around Fass and other hideouts of the unwanted sects.

“We wish to also call on the government to look into the issue of open grazing, which has been used as a tool for subtly perpetrating terrorism over the years.”

Meanwhile, spokesperson for OPSH, Captain Oya James, confirmed the incident.

He said sector 4 commander was informed of the incident in the morning, and he immediately swung into action because he was told the attackers came from the Riyom axis.

According to Captain James, five people had been arrested in connection with the killing and they are undergoing an investigation now.