Family of six wiped out in Plateau by suspected herdsmen

Armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen cruelly gunned down a family of six on Monday night. The embattled Plateau State chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Damishi Sango, announced this to journalists in Jos yesterday. This was also confirmed by the Plateau State police command.

Sango, who hails from Ganawuri Kingdom of Riyom local government area, where the killing took place, said the murder took place at Nakai community in Ganawuri, which is located off the major road, though the community is somewhat isolated from others.

The youth leader of the area, Gyang Boyi, said they identified the killers to be Fulani because they were speaking Fulfulde, which is the language of the Fulanis. Boyi said immediately the killers attacked, five persons died on the spot while the other one was seriously wounded but died later in the hospital.

According to the police statement by the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Matthias Terna Tyopev, “On May 28 at about 06:00 a.m. one Dalyop Boyi, ‘m’ the Youth Leader of Nakai Danwal village reported to the Plateau State Police Command that at about 7:00p.m. unknown gunmen attacked the house of Gyang Dachung ‘m’ of Nakai Danwal village, and six persons lost their lives.

“The command mobilised to the village, the photographs of the bodies were taken before they were released to the relatives on demand that they be buried according to their traditional rites. The Deputy Commissioner of Police Department of Operations, Plateau State Command, visited the scene. The police patrol of the area is being intensified in order to discourage any reprisal.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, the casualty figure arising from Sunday’s crisis at Dutse Uku community in Jos North local government area of the state rose to 10. Six bodies were deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

A source at the hospital confided in The Guardian that the bodies brought to the hospital yesterday were six while there were those who sustained gun injuries of various degrees. But an eyewitness at the scene of the incident said four other persons who were killed were buried immediately without being taken to the mortuary.

Monday morning witnessed armed soldiers entering people’s houses at Tina, Dutse Uku and Bauchi ring Road all in Jos North local council with the soldiers forcing occupants out to get them arrested. The security personnel comprising soldiers of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), police and the Civil Defence were shooting into the air.

As a result of the indiscriminate harassment and arrest of innocent people, women from neighbouring Cele Bridge, Jevico Filling Station and Tina Junction gathered to protest against the arrest of people in their homes. It was gathered that the soldiers went ahead to arrest the protesting women numbering about 30. This further sparked off tension in the community.