Plateau killings: 29,000 displaced as military investigates ‘no-shooting order’ on attackers

No fewer than 29,000 persons have been forced to flee their respective communities in Bassa local government area of Plateau State as a result of the recent attacks by killer herdsmen which left more than 50 people dead.

It was gathered that more than 400 houses were set ablaze by the assailants, besides other surrounding villages such as Kpachudu, Kpetenvie, Niche-Tahu, Tafigana, DTV and Zahwra, where similar destruction of houses also took place.

The Chairman of the Relief and Intervention Committee, Gastor Barrie, said over 29,000 persons made of 5,000 households were displaced but added that the committee doesn’t have any designated place as IDP camp for the displaced.

“But we don’t have any place designated as IDP camp in Miango for displaced persons. They are not willing to stay in any camp and we have to listen to them because in 2018 when one of the villages was attacked, the security took people to a classroom for refuge only for Fulani militia to attack the facility at night and kill about 30 people.

“What we have done is to plead with other neighbouring communities and their families in Miango to absorb some of the displaced people which they have done.

“For now, the displaced persons meet every day in the morning from 10 am to 12 pm to pray and meet again later around 4 pm. We don’t have much food for the IDPs and that is why we provide at least one meal for them in the afternoon.”

Also the Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ibrahim Ali has stated that the Command is investigating the alleged statement made by some soldiers that they were told not to shoot when the attack was going on.

The commander who stated this while presenting relief materials to the paramount ruler of Irigwe land Bra Nggwe, Rev. Ronku Aka, said there was no way he will give such instruction, adding that in a military operation, troops know what is expected of them.

He pointed out that more troops have been deployed with instruction to halt further killings in all the areas within the Bassa and Riyom local government areas of the state, adding that the troops were equally mandated to stop burning of houses and destruction of crop sand looting of valuables by the marauders.

In his response, the Bra Nggwe appealed to the commander to do something urgently to secure his people, adding that the people have suffered enough in the hands of the killer herdsmen and pledged to give OPSH maximum cooperation to tame the orgy of killings.

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