Again, 27 Killed in Plateau

Again, 27 Killed in Plateau

At least another 27 persons were again killed in Barkin Ladi Local Government Council of Plateau State in a two-pronged attacks by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Monday and Tuesday nights. The council Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Loman, who was at the mass burial of the 27 victims of the attacks, said on phone that the massacre started in Ninji where the Fulani went into the village and rustled cows belonging to the natives which was promptly reported to the police after they had killed seven people.

Loman said the police traced the Fulani where they were loading the cows into a truck and arrested the culprits. Apparently upset by the arrest, the remaining Fulani reportedly regrouped and attacked Ropp, another village in Barkin Ladi, with sophisticated weapons killing another 20 villagers, bringing the total number of those killed to 27.

The chairman said: “Seven people were initially killed at Ninji village on Monday, then 20 people were killed in Ropp on Tuesday night, bringing the total to 27. As I speak to you now, I am at the mass burial of our 27 people massacred by the Fulanis and their mercenaries. This is the handiwork of the Fulani people living amongst us. They harbour mercenaries and terrorists and carry out these dastardly acts.” He said that security personnel had been killed in the recent past, adding that even the security personnel keep it secret to themselves.

“I don’t know what informed that. I don’t also know the reason for reducing the number of victims by the security people. What does that do to their image? It does not reduce their image if they say the actual figure.” According to the chairman, “We have been shouting that there are terrorists here but there has been no response. These terrorists want to make Barkin Ladi another Sambisa forest. The federal government must do something and quickly too.” He said that the mercenaries brought by the Fulanis to attack them were purely terrorists brought by the herdsmen. “Yesterday again, the terrorists went and attacked the village of a paramount ruler in Barkin Ladi. When they came, they met the people who were in their houses doing one thing or another, going about their normal businesses but they opened gunfires on them, killed people and burnt their houses. We are yet to determine the number of people killed. “I am at the mass burial ground now.

We have recovered more than 27 corpses from various locations. The kingpins of these terrorists are known. We have reliable information that they are terrorists, who have vowed to strike before the handover date of May 29. We have cried to the federal government and security agencies particularly the Special Task Force (STF) that we have terrorists in Barkin Ladi. If nothing is urgently done, the Boko Haram of the North-east will be child’s play.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abuh Emmanuel, confirmed the attacks, saying that “only six people were killed by the unknown gunmen, who bore sophisticated weapons. The number of the injured cannot be ascertained now. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nasiru Oki, has deployed more police personnel there to keep the peace.” Media Officer of the STF, Ikedichi Iweha, did not respond to the calls put to him. The Nigerian Army yesterday revoked the curfew passes given to some residents of Maiduguri, the capital of troubled Borno State.

The military authorities also warned motorist off the streets of the town between 7p.m. and 6a.m., insisting that the only vehicles allowed to move are ambulances and fire fighting vehicles on duty. By this action, all persons that were hitherto allowed on the roads during curfew hours like medical practitioners, security officers and journalists may have been barred, as no private vehicles are allowed to move on the road between 7p.m. and 6a.m. The new rule was communicated in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division Nigerian Army Maiduguri, Col. Tukur Gusau.