Some torched houses and cars
Some of the houses and vehicles razed down during the recent Plateau massacre. Photo Credit: Google
NIGERIANS are blaming the federal government as well as the country’s security agencies for the fresh killings that took place in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State between Saturday and Sunday.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, 86 persons have been confirmed killed in the attacks and over 50 houses torched. However, residents of the area and survivors of the attack say more than 120 persons were killed.
Reports say suspected herdsmen attacked a village during a burial event and started killing people and burning houses.
“Fulani people attacked our members who attended the burial of the father to one of our clergy Baba Jakawa, at Gidin Akwati, Gashis district. Late Jakawa was aged over 80 years, a committed member of COCIN, so his burial attracted many sympathisers,” Pam Chollom, Pastor in charge of Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) told journalists on Saturday.
“The armed Fulanis ambushed the sympathisers on their way back from the burial, attacked and killed 34 persons from Nekan village, 39 others from Kufang, and 47 people from Ruku village. As we speak with you, many others are still missing in the bushes.”
Many who reacted to development on tweeter said this is one killing too many, and urged the federal government to match their words with actions and stop the incessant killings across many states of the country.
Some others wondered what might have led to the killings since there is no anti-open grazing law in Plateau State. Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, had attributed the killings by herdsmen in Benue State to the enforcement of the anti-open grazing bill.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the fresh killings, vowing not to rest “until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice”.
In 2018 alone, there have been mass killings in Benue, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau States; some o f the states have witnessed mass killings more than once.
These do not include the killings by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East region.
Yet, the Buhari administration consistently claim that it has delivered on its promise to significantly improve security in Nigeria, which is one out of its three cardinal policies.
But many Nigerians disagree. Read some of the reactions below:
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