* ‘Stop or face decisive action’
* Herdsman held with AK47 rifle
The Army has warned killers to stop their evil act or “face
decisive action by troops”.
It also warned that commanders who fail to act decisively would
“face court martial”.
Killings have persisted in Taraba, Benue and Adamawa states,
despite the ongoing operation “Cat Race”.
No fewer than 24 people were killed in Okpokwu Local Government
Area of Benue State last week in attacks by herdsmen. There was a
resurgence of violence in Plateau State where between Wednesday and
Saturday 25 people, including a family of five, were killed. But
the police put the figure of the dead at 16.
Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu said the army and other
security agencies were working assiduously to identify and arrest
all those involved in those acts, “regardless of their disposition
in the society, including government functionaries”.
Gen. Chukwu said the attention of the army had been drawn to the
continued disturbing, senseless killings and wanton destruction of
properties in the three states and “strongly warns the perpetrators
of these crimes to desist forthwith”.
“We would like to unequivocally reiterate that the Army
Headquarters warns the arsonists and the killers to stop or face
decisive action by troops.
“Our Rules of Engagement (ROE) are clear on arson and murder.
Therefore, no such criminal acts would be allowed in any of the
aforementioned states.
“The public is please reminded that when troops are called out
for internal security operations, they are not to joke or persuade
anyone.
“We have warned our commanders on the ground to take decisive
actions or face court martial.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia invaded Daffo village in
Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, killing among others five
members of Rev. Bitrus Ishaya’s family. The victims have been
buried in two mass graves.
An eyewitness, Jerry Datim, said: “I was part of the rescue
team. Those killed are 25.
“This very attack was a fallout of the January conflict in Daffo
between the youths and the Fulani; the Fulani vowed reprisal. So,
on March 7, the Fulani numbering about 200 and fully armed, stormed
the village at about 11:30pm. Some were dressed in black; others in
red. After the attack, we recovered five bodies of victims.
“Rev. Bitrus Ishaya, his entire family was completely wiped out
during the attack, including Stephen Ishaya, Patrick Ishaya, John
Monday. We buried the five bodies we recovered last Friday. With
the assistance of Mobile policemen, we recovered seven more bodies.
The total number of bodies we recovered at the weekend is 25 and
they have been buried in two mass graves in Daffo.”
A group of concerned members of the Ronkulere ethnic group in
Daffo, who also confirmed the attack at a news conference in Jos
yesterday, said the last attack by the Fulani militia was carried
out on March7 and 8.
Ambassador Adams, said: ”The gunmen unleashed mayhem on people
of Fahrundonghai hamlet and environs of Daffo district.
“This is one attack too many; we have had enough of these
killings. This act of senselessness and share disregard for our
kindness and hospitality as well as our respect for law and order
must stop. Government should step in and stop these killings.
“We have the records of such killings in 2013, 2015 to the
extent that our paramount ruler the Saf Ron Kulere was killed in
2016 in a similar manner. We will be compelled to petition the
United Nations if the Nigerian security are not ready to protect us
from these gunmen.
“More than 400 residents have been displaced because their
houses have been razed by the attackers, families food stuff have
been razed down and those displaced will not be able to prepare
their farm land for the farming season, this is a serious disaster
in our communities.
“We have so far recovered 25 bodies of victims and many more are
still missing, we can’t find their bodies.”
The group said two suspects were arrested by men of the special
military task force “Operation Safe Haven”. But the federal troops
denied such arrests.
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has promised not to rest
until every life in the state is secured. Commissioner for
Information Yakubu Dati, in a statement, said: “Plateau State
Government has given a marching order to the security agents in the
state to immediately arrest and prosecute the criminals that
perpetrated the killings of a couple of persons in Bassa and Bokkos
Local Government Areas of the state.
“Governor Lalong believes that our differences are better
resolved by sitting together to address them rather than taking
arms against one another.
“He warned that the state will not fold its arms and watch the
enemies of Plateau take us back to the dark old days when citizens
distrusted one another, adding that we must emphasize the great
values that unite us as a people.
“While condoling with the families that lost their loved ones in
the attacks, the Governor assured that urgent steps are being taken
in collaboration with the security agents to get to the roots of
the problem, and to avoid the repeat of the ugly incident.”
The Police said they had arrested a herdsman with a military AK
47 rifle.
Plateau police spokesman Terna Tyopev gave the rifle’s number as
HC2614.
He said the herdsman, Muhammadu Musa Bimini, was arrested by
riot policemen on Thursday at Daffo.
Tyopev, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the
suspect had been transferred from Bokkos to the Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) in Jos and was already being
interrogated.
The police spokesman said 16 people were confirmed killed in the
multiple attacks on several villages between Wednesday and
Friday.
He said the command had deployed more personnel to restore peace
to the trouble areas, and advised the people to remain calm and
avoid taking the law into their hands.
Meanwhile, leaders of the affected communities have said that 25
people were killed in the attacks.
The community leaders, who briefed newsmen on Sunday in Jos,
said that many others were still missing.
* ‘Stop or face decisive action’
* Herdsman held with AK47 rifle
The Army has warned killers to stop their evil act or “face
decisive action by troops”.
It also warned that commanders who fail to act decisively would
“face court martial”.
Killings have persisted in Taraba, Benue and Adamawa states,
despite the ongoing operation “Cat Race”.
No fewer than 24 people were killed in Okpokwu Local Government
Area of Benue State last week in attacks by herdsmen. There was a
resurgence of violence in Plateau State where between Wednesday and
Saturday 25 people, including a family of five, were killed. But
the police put the figure of the dead at 16.
Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu said the army and other
security agencies were working assiduously to identify and arrest
all those involved in those acts, “regardless of their disposition
in the society, including government functionaries”.
Gen. Chukwu said the attention of the army had been drawn to the
continued disturbing, senseless killings and wanton destruction of
properties in the three states and “strongly warns the perpetrators
of these crimes to desist forthwith”.
“We would like to unequivocally reiterate that the Army
Headquarters warns the arsonists and the killers to stop or face
decisive action by troops.
“Our Rules of Engagement (ROE) are clear on arson and murder.
Therefore, no such criminal acts would be allowed in any of the
aforementioned states.
“The public is please reminded that when troops are called out
for internal security operations, they are not to joke or persuade
anyone.
“We have warned our commanders on the ground to take decisive
actions or face court martial.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia invaded Daffo village in
Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, killing among others five
members of Rev. Bitrus Ishaya’s family. The victims have been
buried in two mass graves.
An eyewitness, Jerry Datim, said: “I was part of the rescue
team. Those killed are 25.
“This very attack was a fallout of the January conflict in Daffo
between the youths and the Fulani; the Fulani vowed reprisal. So,
on March 7, the Fulani numbering about 200 and fully armed, stormed
the village at about 11:30pm. Some were dressed in black; others in
red. After the attack, we recovered five bodies of victims.
“Rev. Bitrus Ishaya, his entire family was completely wiped out
during the attack, including Stephen Ishaya, Patrick Ishaya, John
Monday. We buried the five bodies we recovered last Friday. With
the assistance of Mobile policemen, we recovered seven more bodies.
The total number of bodies we recovered at the weekend is 25 and
they have been buried in two mass graves in Daffo.”
A group of concerned members of the Ronkulere ethnic group in
Daffo, who also confirmed the attack at a news conference in Jos
yesterday, said the last attack by the Fulani militia was carried
out on March7 and 8.
Ambassador Adams, said: ”The gunmen unleashed mayhem on people
of Fahrundonghai hamlet and environs of Daffo district.
“This is one attack too many; we have had enough of these
killings. This act of senselessness and share disregard for our
kindness and hospitality as well as our respect for law and order
must stop. Government should step in and stop these killings.
“We have the records of such killings in 2013, 2015 to the
extent that our paramount ruler the Saf Ron Kulere was killed in
2016 in a similar manner. We will be compelled to petition the
United Nations if the Nigerian security are not ready to protect us
from these gunmen.
“More than 400 residents have been displaced because their
houses have been razed by the attackers, families food stuff have
been razed down and those displaced will not be able to prepare
their farm land for the farming season, this is a serious disaster
in our communities.
“We have so far recovered 25 bodies of victims and many more are
still missing, we can’t find their bodies.”
The group said two suspects were arrested by men of the special
military task force “Operation Safe Haven”. But the federal troops
denied such arrests.
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has promised not to rest
until every life in the state is secured. Commissioner for
Information Yakubu Dati, in a statement, said: “Plateau State
Government has given a marching order to the security agents in the
state to immediately arrest and prosecute the criminals that
perpetrated the killings of a couple of persons in Bassa and Bokkos
Local Government Areas of the state.
“Governor Lalong believes that our differences are better
resolved by sitting together to address them rather than taking
arms against one another.
“He warned that the state will not fold its arms and watch the
enemies of Plateau take us back to the dark old days when citizens
distrusted one another, adding that we must emphasize the great
values that unite us as a people.
“While condoling with the families that lost their loved ones in
the attacks, the Governor assured that urgent steps are being taken
in collaboration with the security agents to get to the roots of
the problem, and to avoid the repeat of the ugly incident.”
The Police said they had arrested a herdsman with a military AK
47 rifle.
Plateau police spokesman Terna Tyopev gave the rifle’s number as
HC2614.
He said the herdsman, Muhammadu Musa Bimini, was arrested by
riot policemen on Thursday at Daffo.
Tyopev, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the
suspect had been transferred from Bokkos to the Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) in Jos and was already being
interrogated.
The police spokesman said 16 people were confirmed killed in the
multiple attacks on several villages between Wednesday and
Friday.
He said the command had deployed more personnel to restore peace
to the trouble areas, and advised the people to remain calm and
avoid taking the law into their hands.
Meanwhile, leaders of the affected communities have said that 25
people were killed in the attacks.
The community leaders, who briefed newsmen on Sunday in Jos,
said that many others were still missing.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/army-draws-battle-line-against-killer-herdsmen/