Tension In Plateau Farming Community As Gunmen Resume Deadly Attacks

Tension In Plateau Farming Community As Gunmen Resume Deadly Attacks

For years, farming communities in Plateau State, Nigeria have experienced repeated mass and isolated attacks by armed men. Sadly, this trend usually escalates during each farming season when farmers increase their work on their farms. In addition to these attacks against rural farmers, violent ethno-religious conflicts routinely break out in the Plateau Metropolis. Despite efforts by state and non-state actors to mitigate violence, crisis merchants and enemies of the state and its people have resumed their isolated attacks and killings of unarmed citizens going about their daily business.

Recently, scores of people have been killed in farming communities across the state. From Rawuru community in Barkin Ladi, Kwi in Riyom, Murish in Bokkos, Jwak Maitumbi in Mangu to Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Jos North, and Riyom Local Government Areas, families are mourning the killing of their loved ones in the night attacks. Unfortunately, the security agencies appear helpless in apprehending the masterminds before they strike.

Residents of Rawuru have raised the alarm that many armed attackers have assembled at Sham, Wereng, Kum, Byei of Riyom LGA, and Farin Lamba and Dabwak (Kuru) in Jos South, with the plan of launching an attack on them. They have cautioned their neighbours in Chaha, Rangyel, Kaduna Vom, and Chakarum to be on the alert.

Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, lamented that no fewer than six persons were killed and two others injured on Sunday night during coordinated attacks by Fulani militias on residents of the Wereng community in the Bachi District of Riyom LGA as well as Tapo village in Heipang District in Barkin Ladi LGA. Tengwong disclosed that the attacks were simultaneously coordinated between the hours of 8.00 and 10.00 p.m. and that survivors said the attackers, who spoke Fulfulde, laid an ambush at Tapo forest, sporadically opening gunfire at them when the unsuspecting youths were returning home from Heipang.

Despite the Nigerian police spokesman being unreachable, the spokesman of Operation Safe Haven, OpSH, keeping the peace in the state, Captain Oya James, has confirmed that personnel of the OpSH are on the trail of the culprits. However, residents are concerned about the situation as the attacks continue to cause fear and loss of lives.