Two soldiers have been killed in Plateau State during a clash involving local vigilante and herdsmen at Dong village, a border settlement between Bassa and Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
The soldiers were serving with Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), also known as the Special Task Force (STF).
Spokesman for OPSH, Major Umar Adams, confirmed the killing yesterday.
He said that “two military personnel were also injured while seven persons were arrested in connection with the killings.”
Adams told SUN that the clash was due to the killing of 25 Irigwe persons by suspected herdsmen on Monday night, adding that security has been beefed up in the affected areas to curtail further killing of innocent people.
Adams said, “There was a clash on Wednesday morning between local vigilante and Fulani herdsmen around Miango areas, on the border between Bassa and Jos South local government areas. Two soldiers were killed and two others inflicted with injuries during the clash.
“We were able to arrest seven persons in connection with the killings and we have raised a fresh security outfit, which will commence surveillance in the affected communities this night to halt further killings and destruction of properties.”
The suspected herdsmen were said to have started attacking innocent people and burning houses in Dong Kasa communities at about 6:30am when the vigilante group rushed to the scene to resist the attack.
According to the report, 12 vigilante members sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Enos Hospital in Miango and Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the attack, however, told the newspaper that he was yet to ascertain the number of casualties at the time of filing this report.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that there was an attack in that area last night but I’m yet to get the full details as per number of casualties. I’ll let you have it as soon as I get it,” Yamu said.
Comments