At least 38 people, mostly women and children, have been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a latest violence in the villages of Ta’agbe, Ncha, Huke, Nkiendonwhro and Kpara in Plateau State.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the crisis began after a Fulani boy was allegedly killed during a clash with a group of youths in Miango area.
Sources said although the elders of the community handed the six youths to the police for investigation, the Fulani herdsmen regrouped for a retaliatory attack shortly after.
On September 7, between the hours of 10-11pm, our source said, suspected Fulani gunmen attacked Ncha village, killing 24 people.
“We saw them and ran for dear life. They killed both children and women. They attacked and shot on sight.
“Like victims of today and yesterday’s killings, the victims of the September killings were buried in mass grave. We live in fear as the attacks keep coming,” said Joshua Shemshak, a resident who witnessed the mass burials.
He said three weeks after the September 7 attack, another attack was launched on Ta’agbe, Ncha, Huke, Nkiendonwhro, Kpara, leading to mass exodus from the villages.
Giving the details of the Nkiendonwhro and Ta’agbe attack, another witness, Paul Mato, told DAILY NIGERIAN that six people, including women and children were killed in the villages at the weekend.
“An old man was killed in Nkiedonwhro. In Ta’agbe, 6 people were killed. Three children, two elderly men and an old woman were killed.
“Yesterday (Sunday) in Nkiedonwhro, the displaced people taking refuge at a primary school in Nkiedonwhro were attacked by the Fulani herdsmen. 31 people, mostly women and children, were killed in the school that served as IDPs camp,” added the witness.
PRESIDENT BUHARI REACTS
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday described the Plateau killings as “madness gone too far”, and instructed the military and the police to bring the violence to an instant end.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has received with deep sadness and regret, news of the recent killings of at least 20 people in Plateau State, during what has been described as a reprisal attack by some herdsmen.
“President Buhari believes that this madness has gone too far.
He has instructed the military and the police to not only bring the violence to an instant end, but to draw up a plan to ensure that there are no further attacks and reprisal attacks by one group against the other.
“President Buhari is devoted to the sanctity of Nigeria’s unity, and he encourages Nigerians of all groups to learn to live together in peace and harmony.
“He commiserates with the governor and people of Plateau State, and with those who lost their loved ones, friends and family: May God comfort them as only He can,” the statement added.
