3 Feared Dead In Fresh Fulani Herdsmen Attack In Plateau

GUNMEN suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Thursday, stormed
Dong community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State,
killing three people and injuring others.

Some people were killed and others maimed in a similar attack on
the community, last week. The attack lasted for three hours before
the intervention of the security agencies.

Dong community is about four kilometres away from Jos, the state
capital.

An eyewitness, who said that the attack took place at about 9.30
p.m. on Thursday, disclosed that the deceased were vigilantes
carrying out a routine patrol.

According to the witness, after killing the trio, identified as
Yakubu Ado, Aberi Ado and Jepthta Moses, the attackers went on a
shooting spree, causing residents to flee and take refuge in
neighbouring communities.

“The attack caused apprehension in Tundun Wada, federal and
state low-cost housing and in different parts of Jos, the state
capital after rumours that the gunmen were advancing towards the
city,” he said.

When Saturday Tribune visited the community on Friday, it was
deserted as residents had fled for fear of further attacks. Some
youths and elders were seen burying the deceased victims of the
attack.

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Tony Okparaji, who conducted
the burial, condemned the attack and called on both the state and
federal governments to address the security situation.

“It is unfortunate that this attack has become a daily
occurrence and is gradually spreading to the city centre. Dong is
not a village but a community just a few kilometres to the state
capital. It is high time the government rose up to the occasion
before the city centre is overrun,” the priest said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Terna Tyopev,
confirmed the incident and said more men had been deployed in the
community to prevent further attacks and breakdown of law and
order.

The state governor, Simon Lalong, in a statement, on Friday,
noted that relative calm had been restored to the area following
the deployment of security operatives and urged the people to
remain law-abiding.

Asaba storm drainage to solve flooding —Okowa

Governor Lalong sympathised with the bereaved and the injured
and gave the assurance that the government was taking steps to
soothe their pains.

He called on the citizens to volunteer useful information to
security agencies which could lead to the arrest of the
criminals.

The governor also enjoined the people of the state to desist
from spreading wild and unfounded rumours which, according to him,
tend to aggravate the situation.

Governor Lalong also said that security agencies had been
directed to do everything to smoke out the perpetrators of the
crime from their hideouts in order to end the repeated orgies of
violence in the state.

“Besides the logistic support to security agencies, the state
government has already procured 51 operational vehicles to enhance
their operations.

“This is in addition to the upgrade of the communication gadgets
at the state police headquarters, aimed at augmenting the efforts
of the security personnel, some of whom have paid the supreme
price,” the statement added.

GUNMEN suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Thursday, stormed
Dong community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State,
killing three people and injuring others.

Some people were killed and others maimed in a similar attack on
the community, last week. The attack lasted for three hours before
the intervention of the security agencies.

Dong community is about four kilometres away from Jos, the state
capital.

An eyewitness, who said that the attack took place at about 9.30
p.m. on Thursday, disclosed that the deceased were vigilantes
carrying out a routine patrol.

According to the witness, after killing the trio, identified as
Yakubu Ado, Aberi Ado and Jepthta Moses, the attackers went on a
shooting spree, causing residents to flee and take refuge in
neighbouring communities.

“The attack caused apprehension in Tundun Wada, federal and
state low-cost housing and in different parts of Jos, the state
capital after rumours that the gunmen were advancing towards the
city,” he said.

When Saturday Tribune visited the community on Friday, it was
deserted as residents had fled for fear of further attacks. Some
youths and elders were seen burying the deceased victims of the
attack.

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Tony Okparaji, who conducted
the burial, condemned the attack and called on both the state and
federal governments to address the security situation.

“It is unfortunate that this attack has become a daily
occurrence and is gradually spreading to the city centre. Dong is
not a village but a community just a few kilometres to the state
capital. It is high time the government rose up to the occasion
before the city centre is overrun,” the priest said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Terna Tyopev,
confirmed the incident and said more men had been deployed in the
community to prevent further attacks and breakdown of law and
order.

The state governor, Simon Lalong, in a statement, on Friday,
noted that relative calm had been restored to the area following
the deployment of security operatives and urged the people to
remain law-abiding.

Asaba storm drainage to solve flooding —Okowa

Governor Lalong sympathised with the bereaved and the injured
and gave the assurance that the government was taking steps to
soothe their pains.

He called on the citizens to volunteer useful information to
security agencies which could lead to the arrest of the
criminals.

The governor also enjoined the people of the state to desist
from spreading wild and unfounded rumours which, according to him,
tend to aggravate the situation.

Governor Lalong also said that security agencies had been
directed to do everything to smoke out the perpetrators of the
crime from their hideouts in order to end the repeated orgies of
violence in the state.

“Besides the logistic support to security agencies, the state
government has already procured 51 operational vehicles to enhance
their operations.

“This is in addition to the upgrade of the communication gadgets
at the state police headquarters, aimed at augmenting the efforts
of the security personnel, some of whom have paid the supreme
price,” the statement added.