Police officer, 19 others killed in Plateau fresh attack

Posted by admin Headlines, Plateau, State News Thursday, November 24th, 2011

A Police officer, and at least 19 other people have been killed and several others severely injured in the wake of violence which occurred at Barkin Ladi, the council headquarters of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Two churches, an Islamic school, and over 20 other buildings were also torched. The officer, whose name was given as Dalyop Pinda was killed in the mayhem which occurred in Barakin and to forestall possible spread to neighbouring villages and towns especially to Jos, which is about 50 kilometres to the area, the Special Task Force (STF) has imposed 24-hour curfew, in the area.

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Abraham Yiljap, while briefing the press after assessing the level of damage said, the actual cause of the mayhem has not been ascertained. He however disclosed that over 60 people have been arrested and are being interrogated and the law will take its course. He said but for the rapid deployment of security forces the crisis would have escalated.

He said, “we are all the more pained by the fact that these are people that have been living together peacefully for more than decades”, adding that the government is taking steps towards providing relief for the displaced persons.

This rage, a resident of the area said, is not unconnected with the killing of three Berom youths, who were returning from Barkin Ladi to their village of Rasat last Sunday by a people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Since then, there had been tension. The Beroms in reprisal reportedly went after the herdsmen resulting in the death of four others believed to be Fulanis.
But the full-blown mayhem, according to the resident, broke out yesterday morning with the killing of three Muslim youths and burning of the Islamic School in the area. The Hausa/Fulani teamed up and wrecked havoc on the Berom natives and their churches.

Giving the account, the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Emmanuel Loman said, it took the spirited effort of the anti-riot policemen to save the Kassa Agric Training Centre, which was almost razed by the rioters, adding that, “one of the mobile policemen was even shot.” He added that the Hausa Muslims had remobilized at Kura and Gashish to launch another onslaught on the natives when the security forces went and dislodged them.

A serving Councilor, Mr. Pam Choji Pam lost his four children who were attacked and killed in their house.
Corps members serving within the council have all been rescued to the NYSC Secretariat in Jos. A Muslim resident in the area, who identified himself as Alhaji Tanko has however faulted the selective arrest of the Muslim youths by the security forces, adding that such is not acceptable. Yiljap, who briefed the press, the Police Public Relation Officer, Mr Jacob Apev, and the STF spokesperson, Captain Charles Ekeocha said, they were still trying to compile data on the casualty and the level of damage to property.

-Sunwp_posts