Gunmen yesterday invaded six
Plateau villages killing over 23 people. Also, over 50 people were injured in
the attack carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The mass slaughter came even as
youth corps members posted to the state staged a protest yesterday, against
official attempts to frustrate their choice to be re-deployed out of the state.
Investigations
revealed that the attack was carried out in Gashish district of Barkin Ladi
local council area of Plateau state.
Villages attacked which
included Kakuruk, Kuzen Ngyo, Kogoduk, Ruk and Dogo were said to be under heavy
military-like gunfire as the suspected Fulani militants reportedly dressed in
bullet-proof vest and army camouflage.
A source who did not want his
name on print told Sunday Mirror that several people were left dead, including
a mobile police officer attached to the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis.
Hon. Gyang Fulani, member
representing Barkin Ladi state constituency in the Plateau State House of
Assembly confirmed the attack in a telephone chat with our correspondent.
According to him, more than 23
people were left dead when the Fulani mercenaries stormed six villages in
Gashish district of Barkin Ladi Local Government of the state “in large number,
at about midnight and were shooting sporadically.”
He said that so many people
were injured in the process while some houses were also burnt by the
assailants.
Similarly, member, representing
Barkin Ladi Riyom federal constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Simon
Mwadkwon, said so far, 20 dead bodies had been recovered.
He lamented the incessant
attacks on innocent people in his constituency.
The Police Public Relations
Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, Abu Emmanuel, an Assistant
Superintendent of Police, when contacted, confirmed that there were attacks in
some villages in Barkin Ladi local council.
He said he could not give the
casualty figure as he and the other police officials “are still in the bush
trying to calm down the people and the restive youths of the villages. We are
trying to restore nor-malcy,” he said.
In the same vein, the Media
Officer of the STF, Captain Salisu Mustapher, when contacted, said when they
got information on the attack in some villages in Barki Ladi council, they went
to the area to repeal the attack. He said that some arrests had been made so
far. He too declined to give the casualty figure.