Herdsmen killings: we lost 99 persons, 863 houses in five months – Plateau Group
National Publicity Secretary of Miango Youth Development Association in Plateau State, Comrade Zango Lawrence Nebanat, has expressed grief that 99 persons have been killed and 863 houses were burnt down in five months by Fulani herdsmen in Irigwe Chiefdom of Miango Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He noted that 44 persons were inflicted gunshots injuries and over 24 persons displaced in 26 villages who consist of women, children and the aged.
Comrade Nabanat, in a press statement issued in Jos yesterday pleaded with the Presidency to direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to rescue the displaced persons by supplying relief materials and rebuild the burnt houses now that the raining season is approaching.
“In the last five month, from September, 7th 2017 to February 10th 2018 some villages in Bassa LGA of Plateau State came under heavy and gruesome attacks by maurading Fulani herdsmen in a genocidal manner.
“No fewer than 26 villages were attacked, 99 people killed, 44 people injured, 863 houses razed down with food bans, 347 farm land produce destroyed worth millions of naira, 15 motor bikes and a bus burnt, 24 irrigation water pumps burnt and destroyed, more than 23, 000 IDPs recorded including Men, Women, Children and the aged and estimated number of properties lost amount to billions of naira.
“These attacks began in Ncha village on 7th September, 2017 with the gruesome killings of more than twenty people, mostly made up of women and children in their sleep: houses were also razed down completely; since that fateful day, peace has eluded the Irigwe nation.
“Ever since the Ncha incident, the assailants have continued to launch midnight unexpected attacks in other communities in line with their threat that Ncha was just the beginning: we have continually woken up to news of attacks each day leaving tears, sorrow, despair and apprehension.”
Comrade Nabanat begged Federal Government to includes Plateau among states in the North Central to be visited by the military operation for safety of lives and properties.
“Plateau state should be included among states that Federal Government has mobilized military operation for the safety of lives and properties which have suffered wanton destruction of lives and properties since or before 2001 by enemies of the state and nation.
“We are calling for the enforcement of an agreement broken by ‘Operation Save Heaven’ security outfit Jos, on January, 29th 2018, which states “anytime there is killing in the area, leaders of the attackers should be held responsible”.
He called for the arrest of the Miyyeti Allah leaders of Plateau State in regards to Zanwra village attack of 10 February, 2018 where three persons were killed and two others injured.
“We are pleading with the federal government to please come to our aid with relief materials and rebuild houses burnt and destroyed by the Fulani herdsmen and give compensation to farmers as promised”.
