Again terrorists kill, sack Plateau communities

 

 

There seems to be no respite to the incessant attacks on Plateau communities. ISAAC SHOBAYO writes on the latest attacks and promises of the government to respond.

 

Plateau State was once again plunged into darkness last week following an attack on six villages and communities in the Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, which led to the death of no fewer than 60 people, most of whom were women and children. Prior to this incident, the local government had been witnessing pockets of killings on various flanks of the council area.

Recall that close to 80 residents of the local government were massacred by terrorists, also known as gunmen, on the eve of Christmas 2023, prompting locals, especially farmers, to flee their villages for fear of more attacks.

Despite the extensive actions put in place by both security men and the government to avert the 2023 episode of the attack happening again last December, the rampaging terrorists struck last week in a deadly attack that left quite a number of people in shock.

Last week Tuesday, the gunmen who had laid siege to the council attacked a gathering of mourners at a wake keep in Ruwi village, killing roughly 16 people and injuring five more. They also attacked four more communities, including Daffo, Manguna and Hurti, in quick succession. People were also reportedly murdered and injured in the attacks.

While communities were still reeling from these attacks, the rampaging terrorists in the local government further assaulted the settlements of Mangor, Tamiso, Daffo and Tadai. In these communities, at least 40 people were brutally murdered.

A sociocultural group in the local government known as the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, which has been monitoring the trend of events in the area, said in a statement signed by its chairman, Farmasum Fuddang, that from the last attack, 35 persons were given mass burial, while five other victims had been burnt to ashes.

Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that the tragedy has resulted in a large migration of residents from the impacted and surrounding villages to the local government headquarters and other council areas. It was learnt that about 20,000 people have been displaced and are presently taking refuge at makeshift internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the area.

Micheal Johanna, who escaped the attack by the whisker in Hurti, offered a vivid account of what happened. According to him, the marauders invaded the community in broad daylight at about 3:45 pm, while most of the residents of the community were either on their farms or returning from the farm.

“I was inside my house when I heard sporadic gunshots through my community. I peered out of the window and I discovered that people were fleeing for their lives. Immediately joined them, along with my wife and two children. We were able to flee into the bush unharmed.

“When we emerged two hours later after the gunfire had stopped, we saw that security personnel had shown up. They found 35 people had been killed while the 18 people who sustained injury were treated at the Bokkos Cottage Hospital. Mass burials were later held for the deceased.”

Thomas Ibrahim, who lives at Manguna, one of the scenes of severe attacks, claimed he lost his uncle, the principal of the Government Secondary School in Manguna. Describing how his uncle was killed, Ibrahim said he was shot at close range and left to die in the pool of his blood.

Also, Albert Danladi, who resides in Hurti, said he is yet to recover from the gory incident during the attack on the village in broad daylight. He stated that seven members of his family were killed in the village by the attackers who he said came on motorcycles.

“The remains of seven of them were discovered at different locations within the village. They were probably shot while running for their lives. To me, the attack was without provocation because we had no quarrel or misunderstanding with anyone or group. Many of us are yet to unravel the reason for the attack.

A cross-section of those who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune averred that the attack were ploys by the terrorists to chase them out of their ancestral lands for possible occupation.

Apart from those killed and injured, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that more bodies were continually being discovered in the bushes. These were victims most likely killed in their hideout or while attempting to flee the scene. It was also learnt that some of the citizens of the affected communities are still missing.

According to various accounts, the primary issue following the tragedy is the fear of returning to their own communities. Some of those taking sanctuary at the internally displaced camp in Bokkos, the local government headquarters, expressed reservations about returning to their communities soon.

A community leader in Daffo who wished to remain anonymous, said a significant number of the people who left their villages are reluctant to return out of fear of being attacked again, stating that it is a case of “once bitten, twice shy”.

The community leader stated, “The pressure on us as community leaders right now is to persuade people who left to return. However, I feel that if the government can provide appropriate protection, people might be willing to return.

“In this part of Plateau State, we have suffered numerous attacks, to the point that our people no longer trust that another catastrophe will occur. If the government can provide security and ensure that those arrested are prosecuted regardless of who is bored, they will undoubtedly return to ply their trade, which is primarily farming.”

Impact on agriculture

From all indications, the local government of Bokkos is one of Nigeria’s and Plateau State’s food baskets. In Nigeria, the council area is where the majority of Irish potatoes are grown. Checks reveal that the current crisis, which has displaced farmers from their farms, may have a negative impact on the production of this and other crops.

A farmer in the tumultuous local government revealed that the terrorists came not only to kill but also to loot. In one of the impacted settlements, a female farmer, named Tabitha, claimed that during the most recent raid, the assailants also carted away numerous sacks of corn and harvested Irish potatoes.

According to her, the ongoing attacks may affect Irish potatoes this year; most of the attackers are still lurking in nearby bushes and hills, waiting for an opportunity to attack, and unless they are dislodged, most farmers who have abandoned their farms for fear of attack may not return.

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“We should not delude ourselves; these attackers are among us, and the foreigners have come at the invitation of individuals among us. We know them, as does the government. It is obvious that the plan is to force us out of our ancestral homes; the ploy is nothing more than land grabbing,” she stated.

The senator representing the Plateau Central senatorial district of Plateau State, Senator Diket Plang, corroborated this when he declared that there are subterranean moves by some elements to send the people out of their ancestral land and as well cripple the economy based on the people, which is agriculture.

However, both security agencies and the government have declared their determination to address the insecurity ravaging the local government and other parts of the state. The Chief of Army State, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oloyede, during a visit to the state this week, promised that more troops will be deployed to the crisis-ridden parts of the state. Likewise, the state government has equally vowed that those arrested will be prosecuted.

Despite this assurance, the people are still sceptical of returning to their ancestral homes for fear of further attack. They are awaiting the manifestation of the assurance given by both the security agencies and the government for them to return home.