4 killed in fresh Plateau attack

IN what seems to be a sustained onslaught on parts of Plateau State, gunmen on Thursday night killed no fewer than four persons, including a security agent, in Nkiedoro village in Bassa Local Government Area.

Two places of worship were reportedly burnt down in the attack.

Gunmen suspected to Fulani herdsmen had, in the early hours of the day, invaded Ariri village, also the local government, killing 19 people and destroying valuables, including farm produce.

The latest attack was reported to have lasted for 20 minutes, after which the gunmen, it was gathered, left on motorcycles.

A source told Saturday Tribune that the attack began at about 10:55 p.m. but the heavily armed invaders were repelled by men of the military outfit, Operation Safe Haven, who arrived at the scene in the nick of time.

The source stated that among the victims was a security man. A mobile policeman, who sustained injuries in the attack, he added, was currently receiving treatment at undisclosed hospital in Jos.

According to the source, 35 houses were also burnt and many farm produce destroyed.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations officer, DSP Mathias Tyopev Terna, declined comment on the latest attack.

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“I cannot say anything on the attack until the state Commissioner of Police, who is attending a meeting at the Government House returns,” he said as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the headquarters of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army has described as a false and misleading, a report that 11 cars and two corpses were recovered from a pond where the car of a missing retired Major General, Idris Alkali, was recovered.

The army division, in a statement signed by the Deputy Army Public Relations Officer, Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya, thanked members of the public for the interest they have shown in finding the missing retired senior officer.

According to the statement, since the commencement of the search-and-rescue operation, as directed by Army Headquarters, the following have been discovered in the pond:

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“On 29 September, 2018, a black Toyota Corolla car with the registration number KWARA MUN 670 AA, a customized white T-Shirt with Nigerian Army logo and the general’s name inscribed on it as well as a pair of canvass shoe belonging to the retired missing senior officer.

“On 2 October 2018, a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number PLATEAU RYM 307 XA which was reported missing with the driver on 24 June 2018 and a red Rover car with registration number BAUCHI AG 645 TRR, which was also allegedly reported to have been buried along with the occupants on 31 January 2013.”

The military enjoined members of the public to disregard the rumour circulating on the social media which, it said, was aimed at misinforming them about its ongoing operations.

It said a cordon-and-search operation was ongoing in the general area of Dura-Du District in Jos South Local Government Area of the state, adding that the aim of the operation was to find the missing retired officer dead or alive.

“This will enable his family to re-unite with him, if found alive, or for the family and Nigerian Army to give him a befitting military burial if he is dead,” the military said.

It urged the people, residents of Dura-Du District, to come forward with credible information about the whereabouts of the missing retired senior officer.