No fewer than 10 people were killed and 30 houses burnt in Mangu Local Government area of Plateau State as a result of hostility between Fulani herdsmen and the indigenes, just as the anti-bomb squad of the Plateau State Police Command Friday defused a bomb close to the residence of the National President of Jamatul Islam Bida Waikamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheik Yahaya Jingir in Jos.
Since Wednesday this week, there have been attacks and counter attacks between the Fulani and the indigenes in Mangu Local Government area of the state during which three people were beheaded in Kantoma village in the council area.
It was learnt that people suspected to be Fulani on revenge mission swooped on Shurun village and killed 10 people while more than 30 houses were set ablaze in the early morning attack.
An eye witness said gunmen shot sporadically into the air to the villagers. “It is quite worrisome that the gunmen have been identified as the Fulani herdsmen living within our communities. They carried out the deadly attacks and got back to their huts unharmed. The calibre of arms and ammunitions used by the attackers goes to show that it was well coordinated to eliminate us,” he said.
When contacted, Plateau Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abuh Emmanuel said he was yet to get full details of the attack from the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
It was learnt that Sheik Jingir and his followers who were celebrating the Eid-el-Maulud may have been the target of those who planted the bomb, knowing that the vicinity would be a beehive of activities as a result of the festival.
Special Task Force (STF) spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iweha who confirmed the incident, said the bomb was planted in the area on Thursday ahead of yesterday’s festival but was discovered on Thursday night.
According to him, immediately it was discovered, the entire vicinity was cordoned off and men of the state anti-bomb squad were invited yesterday to defuse the bomb.
He therefore enjoined people of the state to be careful and report any suspected object or movement to security agencies. The Guardian
If they shoot you, shoot them too in self-defence, and stop looking for who will protect you. Nobody is willing to arrest anybody with illegal possession of firearms any more. Some people will kill our police men in numbers and go free. That is how bad it is. Herders go about their way with arms, kill and cause havoc at will with nothing done. What else!