Another Six Killed in Fresh Onslaught in Plateau Community

At least six persons were again killed in the early hours of yesterday in Taagbe village, near Kent Academy in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State by gunmen suspected to be herders.

No fewer than five others were reportedly injured and rushed to the hospital, while at least 10 houses were burnt in the attack which lasted for about an hour from 12a.m.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Terna Tyopev, said: “Yes, there was an attack on a village in Bassa local government area; six persons were killed, five others injured, and about 10 houses burnt in the overnight raid.”

He added that no arrest has yet been made, but that more policemen have been deployed to the area, promising that perpetrators would be brought to book.

Meanwhile, residents of Taagbe have expressed worries that in spite of the indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on local government area on Friday by Governor Simon Lalong, attacks on the communities have continued unabated.

They also lamented that some soldiers deployed to the area went around on a house-to-house search to collect the few weapons they have in their homes for self-defense, yet they did not protect them from the attackers.

The attack followed an earlier threat on Dong Kassa, a community behind Jos Wild Life Park, about five kilometres away from Taagbe, on Saturday night.

Some Fulani herders had on that Saturday night reportedly warned their kinsmen living in Dong Kassa of an impending attack, urging them to vacate the area immediately. The men of the community therefore immediately organised themselves into vigilante groups ahead of the imminent attack. But rather than attacking the community, the attackers went a different way to Taagbe.

Lalong had on Friday night imposed a fresh curfew on local government area of the state.

In a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Mr. Emmanuel Samuel Nanle, the governor had ordered a special military search and security enforcement operation with the hotbeds of ethnic and religious crisis.

He also directed traditional rulers to ensure strict compliance with the curfew and other specific security measures that would be put in place to guarantee the peace and security of the entire indigenes of Bassa Local Government Area.