Plateau killings: Angered by arrest of ‘victims’, protesting women burn down traditional ruler’s palace

THERE was pandemonium in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday as women, in their numbers, took to the street to protest what they called the indiscriminate arrest of youths in the area. They described those being arrested as “victims” of the recent terror attacks. The women then proceeded to burn down the palace of the traditional ruler of the area, Michael Monday Adamchi.

In the aftermath of the Christmas Eve killings which left no fewer than 200 people dead, a Fulani commercial motorcycle operator was killed on Tuesday. An imam was also killed while trying to salvage the remains of his property.

It was learned that as a result of the latest killings, men of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) swooped on the community where the two were killed and arrested some youths.

A source revealed that the women staged the Friday protest at the police station in the community and later moved to the palace of the district head where they set fire to the building.

Saturday Tribune reliably gathered that the traditional ruler and other members of his family living in the palace escaped by a whisker while security operatives who arrived later at the scene had a hard time bringing the situation under control.

It is not clear why the traditional ruler and his palace were targeted by the protesters. A source, however, said the people felt the traditional ruler was not doing enough to protect them. Some natives accused him of colluding with the government in the arrest of the youths.

The chairman of the transition committee of Bokkos Local Government, Mr Monday Kassam, who confirmed the protest, said he could not assert whether the palace of the traditional ruler was burnt down or not.

“I can confirm to you that women, in their numbers, protested in Bokkos today. But I cannot comment on the alleged burning of the palace of the district head of Bokkos until I go there and see things for myself,” Kassam said.

The information officer of the OPSH, Captain Oya James, could not be reached for comment on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Bokkos Progressive Youths, in a statement signed by its president, Christopher Luka Tulladem, accused the military of human rights abuse.

The group alleged that since the Christmas Eve incident, the military had engaged in indiscriminate arrest of natives whom it described as the victims.

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