Gunmen kill five in fresh Plateau attacks

• Miyetti Allah petitions military over ‘missing herds’

No fewer than five persons have been killed by gunmen in fresh attacks on some rural communities in Bokkos local council area of Plateau State. A statement by Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council, Farmasum Fuddang, and the Secretary, Duwam Bosco, confirmed the killings in the attacks, which took place on Monday.

“This tragic incident comes on the heels of a week marked by bloody attacks, during which we buried over 10 members of our community,” the statement said.

They explained that five persons were earlier killed at Wumat on October 7, four in Kuba on October 10, one person in Maikatako on October 11, and another on October 12.

The group also lamented that the communities have endured numerous assaults in previous months, including six fatalities in Daffo on September 3, two in Tarangol on the same day, five in Mbar on September 16 and two in Kop Mandarken on September 27.

They added that despite warning by a media outlet on October 12, terrorists launched a brutal attack on the Rafut Village in Kwatas district shortly after 7 pm on October 14.

“Four young men, who were out guarding their family’s home, were tragically ambushed.

“The attackers thereafter stormed the compound, killing an elderly man, bringing the total fatalities to five,” the statement added.

MEANWHILE, the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Mangu Local Council of the state has petitioned the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Amoured Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, over missing 136 cows and 17 sheep belonging to Abdullah Muhammad, Yakubu Adamu, and other members of their families allegedly seized by the military officers for no reason.

According to the petition yesterday, against Lt Col. Obi, Commander of Forward Operation Base (FOB) Mangu and his personnel, they accused him of “cattle rustling, harassment, intimation, threats and oppressions of Fulani community members in Mangu.”

They stated: “We are pushed to the wall, we are subjected to hardships, molestation, discrimination, devilish treatments. Sir, in fact, we are stressed and stretched beyond elasticity. Therefore, we want to boldly announce to you that, we suffered from an unnecessary fatigue and tension that we can no longer bear.

“We are equally baffled by the activities of these military officers that are saddled with the responsibility of enforcing law and order but, are now resorting to highest atrocities that include cattle rustling, harassing, intimidating, threatening, oppressing, mischief making, devilish treatment, and hooliganism of the innocent and peace-loving Fulani people just to satisfy their dictators.”

“We, at this point, want to formally and officially inform you of the atrocities of the military officers in the field in the name of peace-keeping.”