Plateau: Ten houses burnt…as Fulanis invade villages in Plateau

Posted by admin Headlines, Plateau, State News Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Atleast 10 persons have been killed and more that 20 houses destroyed as gun men invaded six Berom villages in Riyom Local Government of Plateau State between Monday night and yesterday morning. Residents of the affected villages which include Gwarim, Tahoss, Bangai, Sopp, Angwa Werem and Danjol have fled the areas and are taking refuge in Police stations and primary schools in Riyom, the council headquarters.

In what looked as a well planned attack, some of the invaders who were said to be using vehicles allegedly entered each village in succession killing and maiming residents as they go along.

A resident of Gwarim village, one Dauda Gyang who said he lost his younger brother in the raid said, the attackers had packed their vehicles a little bit from the village and heralded their arrival with gun shots and as soon as the villagers begin running into the bush to take cover shoot some of them and set their houses ablaze.
Gyang who said more than ten houses were burnt in his village Monday night, said the gun men were Fulanis who are familier with the terrain of the village.

He said some of the attackers wore soldiers uniform ; accussing the soldiers of aiding the Fulanis. He said in the day time the soldiers had ransacked the villages and seized dane guns from villagers and at night the armed Fulanis came in to attack; saying ‘this is what has been happening for about two weeks now.

“Last weekend, a mobile police shot one youth three times and the guy died, the mobile officer called it accidental discharge, how can you shoot three times and called it accidental discharge, he queried.
At one of the Primary school in Tahoss, not less than 100 displaced persons mostly women and children are currently taking refuse there.
Speaking to journalists, former member of the Plateau state House of Assembly from Riyom, Emmanuel Jugul said, “Governments at the Federal and state level are not doing enough to protect its citizens, it is bloodletting everyday in Riyom and we say we have government shouldered with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties”

Jugul said, “Apart from government, the security agencies in charge of the area are not sincere in their job, it either they are not doing their job or they are conspiring with the attackers, because they securities did nothing to stop the killing and the council is under state of emergency.”
Spokesman of the STF Capt. Mdhayelyah Markus who confirm the incidence said he was not aware if anyone was killed but that he can confirm that three house burnt and residence are taking refuge outside their homes.
Capt. Markus said, “As a result of the incident, the STF commander has mobilized troops from other places to go there to reinforce Sector 9 to handle the situation.

He said the commander himself has visited the area and addressed the
refugees; asking them to
return to their houses with promise of adequate security. So we are in
control in the area”

However, member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau state
of Assembly Hon. Daniel Dem said ‘the crisis if affecting my
constituency directly, the truth is that five people were killed in
the night
attack, several others who sustain injuries from gunshots arereceiving
treatment in various hospitals and there are thousands of displaced
persons whose house has already been set ablaze by the
attackers”

The lawmakers said, “I cried to the security agencies on ground and
they were telling me there is nothing they can do to stop the
attackers because they are short of men while the attackers are
coming in hundreds”

Hon Dem appealed to the federal government to send in more troops to
salvage the situation on ground Most of the injured persons are at
Vom Christian hospital receiving treatment

-Sunwp_posts