Jos—Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, yesterday, killed 14 people in three villages of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The gunmen were said to have attacked the three villages simultaneously shooting sporadically and destroying property.

Eight people were killed at Ranghol in Sopp ward, all members of the same family, were shot dead at Dallyam village in Tahoss District and another two brothers killed at Lotton village in Jol ward as they were returning to the village on motor bike.

Several others were injured in what was described by eye witnesses as coordinated attacks. Those killed at Dallyam were a woman and her three children.

The police confirmed the attacks but said only six corpses were found when they got to the area. Police spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Abuh, who said investigations had commenced into the attacks said more policemen have been deployed to the area on the orders of the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Dipo Ayeni.

The raid on the villages came a day after the outbreak of fresh hostilities between locals and Fulani herdsmen following the gunning down of two people by suspected Fulani men which resulted in the killing of a Fulani man in a reprisal attack.

Member representing Barakin-Ladi/Riyom federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Simon Mwadkon confirmed that 14 people were killed in the attacks, regretting that the hope that peace had returned to the area has again been shattered.

He blamed the situation on the failure of the authorities to tackle the matter decisively adding, “people commit atrocities at will because they know they will go scot free. Killing innocent people is gradually becoming a natural phenomena in Nigeria.” The bodies of those killed have been deposited in the mortuary.




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