Barely a week after the official launch of a five-year road map for peace strategy in Plateau State by President Muhammadu Buhari, suspected herdsmen have reportedly killed about 70 persons and injured scores in the state.
DAILY POST also gathered that thousands have been displaced and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in the affected communities within the week.
The incident started less than 24 hours before the President’s visit to the state. The villages destroyed in Daffo District of Bokkos LGA were Nghakudung, Morok, Hottom, Wareng and Ganda.
Over thirty persons were said to have been killed, several injured, and over 2, 000 displaced.
In Bassa LGA within the past week, about 40 persons have lost their lives as a result attacks by herdsmen in Nzharuvo, Dundu and Rafiki/Dong villages.
The latest is that of three soldiers and two mobile police officers serving with Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), also known as the Special Task Force (STF). They were among the seven killed Wednesday at a border settlement between Bassa and Jos South local government areas of Plateau State.
The Plateau Police Command Spokesperson, ASP Mathias Tyopev Terna confirmed most of the attacks, but did not give figures.
According to sources in Daffo, last weekend, over 30 persons were buried, while several others were declared missing.
Also Troops of 3 Division Garrison Jos Plateau State, according to a press statement by Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, Director Army Public Relations, said “while conducting search, troops discovered 23 dead bodies at Mararaba Dare shortly before Rafiki Village and many civilians were wounded.”
“Troops have intensified patrol within the general area to forestall further break down of law and other” the statement assured.
DAILY POST gathered that Governor Simon Lalong has summoned stakeholders in the Fulani community, the Irigwe people in Miango Bassa and Daffo people in Bokkos, for a crucial security meeting with a view to finding a lasting solution to the killings in the aforementioned communities.
The State Government hard also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the affected communities.
Meantime, the Governor in a broadcast to the citizenry, said, “Let me assure our citizens that some arrests have already been made and the suspects will be arraigned before the relevant authorities in no distant future.
“Beyond these interim measures, we have developed a sustainable policy response to the protracted conflict in the State as contained in the Road Map to Peace document which was recently launched by Mr. President”, he explained.
“This document contains sustainable solutions to the challenges of peace and security in Plateau State,” Lalong stressed.
“The Rescue Administration is determined to implement the details of this plan considering the potential it holds for the future of our state in terms of peace and security”, he assured.
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