3 killed in fresh Fulani herdsmen attack in Plateau

GUNMEN suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Thursday, stormed Dong community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing three people and injuring others.

Some people were killed and others maimed in a similar attack on the community, last week. The attack lasted for three hours before the intervention of the security agencies.

Dong community is about four kilometres away from Jos, the state capital.

An eyewitness, who said that the attack took place at about 9.30 p.m. on Thursday, disclosed that the deceased were vigilantes carrying out a routine patrol.

According to the witness, after killing the trio, identified as Yakubu Ado, Aberi Ado and Jepthta Moses, the attackers went on a shooting spree, causing residents to flee and take refuge in neighbouring communities.

“The attack caused apprehension in Tundun Wada, federal and state low-cost housing and in different parts of Jos, the state capital after rumours that the gunmen were advancing towards the city,” he said.

When Saturday Tribune visited the community on Friday, it was deserted as residents had fled for fear of further attacks. Some youths and elders were seen burying the deceased victims of the attack.

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Tony Okparaji, who conducted the burial, condemned the attack and called on both the state and federal governments to address the security situation.

“It is unfortunate that this attack has become a daily occurrence and is gradually spreading to the city centre. Dong is not a village but a community just a few kilometres to the state capital. It is high time the government rose up to the occasion before the city centre is overrun,” the priest said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Terna Tyopev, confirmed the incident and said more men had been deployed in the community to prevent further attacks and breakdown of law and order.

The state governor, Simon Lalong, in a statement, on Friday, noted that relative calm had been restored to the area following the deployment of security operatives and urged the people to remain law-abiding.

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Governor Lalong sympathised with the bereaved and the injured and gave the assurance that the government was taking steps to soothe their pains.

He called on the citizens to volunteer useful information to security agencies which could lead to the arrest of the criminals.

The governor also enjoined the people of the state to desist from spreading wild and unfounded rumours which, according to him, tend to aggravate the situation.

Governor Lalong also said that security agencies had been directed to do everything to smoke out the perpetrators of the crime from their hideouts in order to end the repeated orgies of violence in the state.

“Besides the logistic support to security agencies, the state government has already procured 51 operational vehicles to enhance their operations.

“This is in addition to the upgrade of the communication gadgets at the state police headquarters, aimed at augmenting the efforts of the security personnel, some of whom have paid the supreme price,” the statement added.