Plateau attacks: Over 30 people killed, many farms destroyed – Group raises alarm

The leadership of Plateau State Youth Council, Coalition of Plateau State Indigenous Youths and YOWICAN, have said over 30 people were killed, while many others sustained various degrees of injuries in some communities in the past two weeks.

The Group also said several farms have been destroyed by the attackers.

They equally said that the motive of the attackers was largely to disrupt farming activities, economic livelihoods, displace population and grab lands in the affected communities.

Briefing journalists in Jos, the State Capital, Chairman of Plateau Youth Council, Comrade Lot Sunday Adas, said, “It has come to the notice of the above mentioned coalition that Fulani militias have resumed and are also planning coordinated attacks and killings in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State.

“These attacks are orchestrated largely to disrupt farming activities, economic livelihoods, displace population and grab lands in these communities.

“From April 15, 2023 to date, our people have been killed, properties worth millions of Naira destroyed, while others have been displaced from their ancestral homes.”

The Group revealed that in Mangu LGA, Murish, Mai-tumbi and Jwak villages were attacked on the 15th and 16th of April, 2023, and 4 people were killed.

“A mining site in Mangor was attacked and five people were killed on the 12th April, 2023.

“Also, in Barkin Ladi LGA, NTV village, 2 people were ambushed and killed on the 17th April 2023. Rawuru, 1 person was ambushed and killed on the 22nd April, 2023. Tapo of Heipang, 4 people were killed on April 23rd, 2023. Heipang-Kwi road (Chit), two people were ambushed and killed on the 27th April, 2023.

“In Riyom LGA, in Wereng, it was a case of massive willful destruction of farmlands on the 22nd of April, 2023. In Kuru Station of Wereng, 2 people were killed on the 23rd April, 2023. In Rim-Bachi road, 3 people were ambushed and 2 fatally injured on the 23rd April, 2023. In Jol, it was a case of willful destruction of farmlands on a massive scale and one person was ambushed, robbed of his motorcycle and abducted on the 24th and 25th April, 2023, respectively.

“Further attacks in Riyom LGA were in Wereng Camp-Darwat road, 2 two clergies were ambushed and 1 fatally injured on the 24th April, 2023. In Gako-Rim, one person was killed on the 26th April, 2023.

“In Jos South LGA, in Turu (Farin Lamba), 6 people were killed and 1 injured on the 25th April, 2023.

“For Bokkos LGA, in Marish, 3 people were attacked and killed.

“The aforementioned attacks are in addition to the many attacks that have taken place in several villages in Bokkos, Riyom and Bassa LGAs”, they explained.

The Group resolved that, “operatives of Operation Safe Haven should desist from ironical and wrongful arrest of victims rather than offenders as in the case of Kuru Station of Wereng in Riyom LGA, where two people were wrongfully arrested having themselves suffered crops destruction by the Fulani herders.

“That all State actors who are charged with the statutory responsibility of guaranteeing the security of lives and properties to rise up to the call of their duty without compromise, fear or favour and forestall any further loss of life and property in and around the general area.

“That all villages and hamlets should initiate immediate measures that would guarantee the security of their lives and properties, and work in synergy with neighboring communities in order to contend with the Fulani onslaughts.

“That Mr. Jatau Yakubu Kachai of Kuru station in Riyom LGA who was wrongfully arrested and continuously detained by Operation Safe Haven at its headquarters in Jos be immediately released unconditionally.”