2 dead, as herdsmen attack more Plateau communities

Jos—Residents of Foron District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State have raised alarm over renewed attacks by Fulani herdsmen. The attacks have reportedly left no fewer than 32 people dead, cattle carted away and houses burnt. On Monday, two attacks at Vat and Zakupang villages left 30 people dead and another attack on Tuesday claimed the lives of two men.

The recent attack took place at Kakpwis village of the District and Ward Head of Kakpwis, Dagwom Ahmadu Hwere, said it occurred at about 11p.m. One Emmanuel Joshua, 32, and Bot Joshua, 30, were killed in their residents and 20 cows belonging to the late Emmanuel carted away.

While confirming the incident on phone, the councillor representing Kakpwis Ward, Istifanus Dung, condemned the attacks, describing them as a strategy to eliminate Berom people in the state.

Dung decried the alleged nonchalant attitude of the Special Task Force, STF, saddled with the responsibility of keeping peace and protecting lives and property for not arresting the perpetrators. However, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3rd Amoured Division, Rukuba, Colonel Texas Chukwu, directed Vanguard to get a reaction from the STF whose spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iweha’s number was not going through.

However, a resident of Foron, Sarah Ayuba, told sia don phone: “We are living in fear. For some time there was no attack and we were sleeping well. “Now we can nolonger sleep because you do not know whose house is next.” A socio-cultural associa-tion, Ngwang Ishi O’tarok, an umbrella body of Tarok people in Plateau State, has condemned last Saturday’s killing in Tarok communi-ties in Wase council.