100 killed in Plateau, Taraba

MAY 5, 2015 : JUDE OWUAMANAM AND DANIEL GBABO

No fewer than 100 people, including a pastor and three soldiers, were killed at the weekend and Monday in Plateau and Taraba states.

Seventy of the deaths were recorded in Karim Lamido and Takum local government areas of Taraba State and 30 in two villages at the Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

It was learnt that suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Vat and Zakupang , killing Pastor Luka Gwom of the Church of Christ in Nation and 29 others in the early hours of Monday.

Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, told our correspondent in Jos that the herdsmen took the action following the theft of about 400 of their cows. More than 300 of the stolen cows, according to him, were later found and returned to their owners.

He explained that the cows were stolen in Jos East and taken to Barakin Ladi, a development that made the herdsmen to launch the attacks.

The Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Emmanuel Lomang, who also confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos, said the attackers killed 17 people in Vat and 13 others in Zakupang, where the Minister of Water Resources, Serah Ochekpe, hails from.

Lomang decried what he called “incessant attacks” on his people and challenged the security agencies, especially the Special Task Force to arrest the perpetrators.

The village head of Kapwen in Foron District, Gwom Ishaku Pam, confirmed Gwom’s death.

He added that a lady, Pualina, who got married two weeks ago, was among those killed by the herdsmen.

Pam said the series of attacks on the villagers had been causing them sleepless nights.

Efforts to contact the state Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Abuh, proved abortive as his telephone could not be reached.

The latest Plateau incident came as the Taroh people in Wase condemned the invasion of three of their communities by soldiers on reprisal on Saturday.

The soldiers were said to have arrived Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata in about 40 vehicles following reports of alleged killing of six of their colleagues at Angwan Nanmi in Karin Lamido LGA.

Although Iweha said that 28 people were killed, the traditional ruler of Kadarko, Lot Nde, put the figure at 39.

The STF spokesman added that the soldiers, who destroyed an armoury in Kadarko, had succeeded in flushing out militiamen that had been terrorising people along the Plateau -Taraba border.

He said, “I want to give you an update on the military operation to flush out militia from Kadarko. I wish to let you know that the operation is completed and soldiers killed 28 of the militia. One soldier was killed in the encounter. Our men also destroyed an armoury used by the militiamen in Kadarko.

“The incident actually started on April 28 when the militiamen ambushed and killed six soldiers. The manner these soldiers were killed was dehumanising because their eyes were plucked out; heads decapitated and their bodies severed.

“Four of our men are still missing. All these prompted the 3 Armourd Division and STF to carry out an operation to flush out these militiamen.

“We have now completed the exercise and calm has been restored to the area. We implore residents to cooperate by giving us information that can help us to do our job.”

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, Beni Lar, condemned the invasion , saying it was a conspiracy against the Taroh.

Lar, in a statement in Jos on Monday, vowed to report the incident to the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and the National Human Rights Commission.

“This attack is a serious violation of human rights to and an attack against humanity,” the lawmaker added, calling on relevant government agencies to investigate it.

Like Lar, the Secretary General of Ngwang Ishi ‘O’ Taroh, Pastor Nanlir Napbut, described the killings as genocide against the Taroh.

In Karim-Lamido LGA of Plateau State, 27 people also lost their lives following a reprisal by the military on Saturday.

It was gathered that suspected Fulani gunmen had ambushed and killed six soldiers between Amar and Kambari villages in the council. Three other soldiers were reported missing after the incident but their bodies were later found in bushes.

The soldiers were said to be on a routine patrol of the area when they were ambushed and killed.

The Chairman of the LGA, Bobboi Bendu, could not confirm the casualty figure, but he said there was an exchange of fire in the area.

“Two villages were razed but I can’t tell the exact number of casualties at the moment. The report I am getting indicates that some persons were killed,” he added.

In Takum LGA, 21 people were killed on Sunday by suspected Kuteb youths.

The youths were said to be also on a revenge mission over the killing of 13 of their kinsmen along the Takum-Katsina-Ala Road and Takum-Kashinbilla Road by gunmen on Friday and Saturday .

It was gathered that while the soldiers were in search of their missing colleagues, suspected gunmen opened fire on them but they replied, killing over 27.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji,who said he was not aware of the killings in Karim Lamido, stated that nine people were killed in Takum following a clash between the Tiv and Kuteb.



Tension is however said to be mounting in Takum and its environs as the Kuteb youths are alleged to be attacking the Tiv.

The development made the council Chairman, Caleb Babafi, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the town.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Concerned Taraba Tiv Youth Frontier, has condemned the killings in Takum and its environs.

The group, in a statement by its Vice- Chairman, Kater Amah, called on the state government to quickly intervene and ensure the protection of lives and property.


It called on both parties to lay down their arms and embrace peace in the interest of unity and development of the council and the state.


http://www.punchng.com/news/100-killed-in-plateau-taraba/

Who be the devil wey de go steal their cows na, when the world know say their cows important pass human life to them

middle belt is the Fulani playground where they killmaim and destroy with impunity.Now that their brother mr why are you people killing my people will soon enter power their activites will be more often and deadiler

Biko, who's even the governor of Plateau State

ozoigbondu:
middle belt is the Fulani playground where they killmaim and destroy with impunity.Now that their brother mr why are you people killing my people will soon enter power their activites will be more often and deadiler

And they expect the president elect to do something against his dearly beloved tribe when he gets in power.Haba

Same person that said that Military offensive against bokoharam is anti-north

We're talking BH that has killed thousands not to talk of Fulani herdsmen


Go figure

ozoigbondu:
middle belt is the Fulani playground where they killmaim and destroy with impunity.Now that their brother mr why are you people killing my people will soon enter power their activites will be more often and deadiler

When they are done with the middle belt, they head head towards the Niger!
who dares to stop them?

Fulani and their cow are just like Mother and child... Imagine if a mother loses her child..

As much as i don't support the killing of people, we need to look at the root cause here!

"Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, told our correspondent in Jos that the herdsmen took the action following the theft of about 400 of their cows. More than 300 of the stolen cows, according to him, were later found and returned to their owners.

He explained that the cows were stolen in Jos East and taken to Barakin Ladi, a development that made the herdsmen to launch the attacks."

If this people also want peace and need peace to reign why not stop the cattle rustling.After so many years,why do we always have to go in circles.Do they ever learn?The issue of grazing fields should be clearly marked to avoid frictions.Often time that is one reason the killings start.Meanwhile killing our soldiers is a NO NO in all dimension. The people have suffered enough for the nation. Going the extra mile to even mutilate the bodies is like summoning the wrath of the army.
Meanwhile no be today belly dey front. The army will not just retaliate like that on the communities, if they did not link it to attacks on its personal.Sad news is the innocent and guilty will be caught up in the action.
RIP to the innocent souls !!!!

A Fulani herd's man prefer the life of his one cow to that of thousands of human and I don't blame them for that cos is not easy to trekk from north to south under the sun and in the rain but not enough reason for their shameful act.

hakanai:
As much as i don't support the killing of people, we need to look at the root cause here!

"Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, told our correspondent in Jos that the herdsmen took the action following the theft of about 400 of their cows. More than 300 of the stolen cows, according to him, were later found and returned to their owners.

He explained that the cows were stolen in Jos East and taken to Barakin Ladi, a development that made the herdsmen to launch the attacks."

If this people also want peace and need peace to reign why not stop the cattle rustling.After so many years,why do we always have to go in circles.Do they ever learn?The issue of grazing fields should be clearly marked to avoid frictions.Often time that is one reason the killings start.Meanwhile killing our soldiers is a NO NO in all dimension. The people have suffered enough for the nation. Going the extra mile to even mutilate the bodies is like summoning the wrath of the army.
Meanwhile no be today belly dey front. The army will not just retaliate like that on the communities, if they did not link it to attacks on its personal.Sad news is the innocent and guilty will be caught up in the action.
RIP to the innocent souls !!!!

In that case, we dont the need the police or the courts!
We all should be at liberty to kill whomsoever steals from us, insults us or even too ugly to us!

Is it only the herdsmen that have lost their goods to thieves?

Shame on Mr. Luggard who created this slave camp called Nigeria!

tayebest:
Fulani and their cow are just like Mother and child... Imagine if a mother loses her child..

The mother would raise alarm, alert people for a search and then report to the police.

Or are you suggesting if a mother loose her child, she should look for gun and shoot whoever catches her fancy?

Such delusion!

noblezone:


The mother would raise alarm, alert people for a search and then report to the police.

Or are you suggesting if a mother loose her child, she should look for gun and shoot whoever catches her fancy?

Such delusion!

that's where it goes mad for those foolish fulani's