….leave 14 others in grave condition
The police have confirmed that 22 people were killed and 14 injured during an attack on travellers in Gada-biyu, in the northern part of Plateau State, on Saturday.
The attack occurred before midday and was carried out by a group of youth along Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government area, the Plateau State police spokesperson, Ugah Garba, disclosed to newsmen.
The victims were in a convoy of five buses and were travelling from Bauchi State to Ikare in Ondo State when they were attacked, the police recalled.
Sources also said the travellers, believed to be Islamic worshippers who are followers of a popular Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, were travelling in large groups from the Annual Islamic Zikr prayer in Bauchi State.
The police described the attack as a “dastardly”.
“Upon receipt of the report, a team of police personnel, the military and other sister agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene where 21 victims were rescued and six suspects arrested,” the police said in a statement.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Egbuka, was, however, said to have visited the scene of the incident, along with some military officers.
Egbuka ordered a discreet investigation to fish out other perpetrators of the act.
He said normalcy had returned to the area, assuring that those that incited the violence would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, a son of the Islamic cleric, Sayyid Dahiru Bauchi, has described the attack as “saddening and shocking.”
He told noted that the victims were innocent and were just travelling from a religious function.
“We are praying to the Almighty to repose their souls and comfort their families,” he said.
Meanwhile, hostilities lately resurged in some Plateau localitied as many people were feared killed, last week, following renewed violence in the Bassa Local Government area.
In the same vein, clashes between some Fulani herdsmen and the indigenous Irigwe ethnic nationality had left no fewer than 13 persons killed from both sides, with over 200 houses set ablaze, within two days.
In the Bassa violence, suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly invaded more communities in the Miango district and killed scores of natives, while others fled their homes.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, Lawrence Zongo, wrenched sore by the magnitude of the calamity, said, “While we are still mourning those killed in the previous attack, the Fulani militia herdsmen returned on Monday and attacked many more villages, including Chwuyeh, Ntiroku (Angwan Magaji), Isho (Kishisho), Gyeh (Kigam), Kangbro, Hwrra, Zirshe, Maiyanga, and Dundu”.
“A total of 43 dead bodies had been recovered from various communities attacked by Fulani militia on Monday.
“Over 20,000 of our people have been dislodged in an operation that lasted for more than six hours. Many were injured and hundreds of households razed.
“In Isho village, five people were killed; Chuweh, six; Ntireku (Angwan Magaji),five; Ghey (Kigam),five; Kangbro,11; Dundu, two, and Hwrra /Mai-Yanga ,11. One soldier wasalso killed by the marauders,” Zongo lamented.
However, the Plateau State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Nura Muhammad, denied the involvement of herders in the renewed violence.
He said, “Our settlement in Bwauna is calm.”