Plateau Attack: Women, babies killed

Ifeyinwa Susan Francis.

Another attack in Plateau State, 14 passengers, women, and children were killed.

This was disclosed by the Daily Trust.

The incident occurred a month after the wedding. When travellers from Kaduna were ambushed and killed by a mob in Plateau State.

The latest victims were reportedly killed along Chirang road, in the Mangor District of the Bokkos local government area of Plateau State.

Daily Trust reports that the victims were ambushed by armed men who opened fire.

The Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF), chairman, Farmasum Fuddang, in a statement, said they were saddened by the attack despite several peace and reconciliation efforts between farming and herding communities.

“The victims, including women and babies were ambushed on their return from the weekly market in Bokkos town. The chairman said that there are occurrences of violence despite various peace and reconciliation efforts”.

Fuddang blames members of an ethic group for launching the attack.

Members of an ethnic group were also blamed for the latest attack, village burnings, and takeovers in the Mushere area,

“They aimed at taking control of the entire local government area, which is recognized as the potato headquarters of Nigeria.”

We are not responsible for the attack – Herders claimed

The herding community in Bokkos has distanced itself from the attack.

Saleh Adamu, chairman of GAFDAN denied the allegation. He said,

“The allegation has no basis because there is no evidence that the attack was carried out by the Fulani. And no herder was arrested at the scene to prove it was carried out by the Fulani. This allegation is the first of its kind here.

“When an incident occurs, security forces investigate before identifying the perpetrators. We condemn the attack in its totality, as the killing of innocent people is not in any way justified by any offense. We condemn the killings.“

At the time of filing this report, neither the police nor Operation Safe Haven has stated the development.