Senator, lawmaker, others killed in Plateau

Posted by admin Legislature, National Politics, Plateau, Senate, State News, Top Stories Monday, July 9th, 2012

Faluni, (left) and Gyang-Dantong

TRAGEDY struck yesterday as the Senator representing Plateau North, Dr. Gyang Dantong, his counterpart in the Plateau State House of Assembly and the Majority Leader representing Barkin Ladi, Gyang Fulani, were yesterday killed by gunmen, during the mass burial of victims of the Saturday attack of some communities in the state. Meanwhile, in view of the incident, Governor Jonah Jang has imposed curfew in, Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom Councils. The curfew will start from 7.30pm to 7.am till further notice

Also, some people were feared burnt to dead in a pastor of the Church of Christ in Nigeria’s house in Maseh village in Riyom Council.

Sources at the burial said the lawmakers were killed when the gunmen invaded Maseh village in Riyom Council as they were conducting mass burial for victims of Saturday’s attack in Kakuruk in Barkin Ladi Council.

Also, member representing Barakin Ladi/Riyom in the House of Representatives, Dr. Simon Mwadkwon and Chairman of Barkin Ladi Council, Mr. Emmanuel Loman narrowly escaped death, while Mwadkwon was injured and later revived at Barkin Ladi General Hospital. It was gathered that Loman went as an advanced party to another mass burial site when he was attacked.

. It was however not too clear how they were killed. There were however two sources as to their killing. One source said they were killed while on a convoy to the burial site, while another traced their killing to when the gunmen descended from the hills of Maseh as they were conducting the burial and ambushed them.

Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yiljap Abraham confirmed the incident. Also, the Special Adviser to Governor Jonah Jang on Security, Mr. Istifanus Gyang, confirmed the development. According to a statement by him, Gyang described the incident as a colossal tragedy. He said Dantong and the state legislator died following the herdsmen attack on mourners at a mass burial of victims of the attack on over nine villages on Saturday at Gashish District of Barkin Ladi.

The news of their death promptly triggered a reprisal as the restive youths immediately blocked the Jos – Abuja road while vehicles quickly made a U-turn to avoid being victims. The victims were mostly women, children and the aged who ran to the church for safety because of the Saturday morning attacks in neighbouring Barkin Ladi.

According to a source, “The attackers were said to have got wind of the presence of the victims in the church and surrounded the church and then set it ablaze with the victims trapped inside. The attackers were also said to have ensured that nobody escaped as they stood by to shoot anybody that tried to escape. The police were said to have evacuated women and children and the aged from the villages for fear of another attack as the gunmen were said to be smarting for another round of attack.”

-Guardianwp_posts