Some concerned citizens of Plateau State have used the opportunity of the visit of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon to protest endless killings in the State.
The protest, targeted to draw the attention of the UN Secretary General, was over the continuous killing of Plateau citizens in the state by Fulani militia group, especially the recent killings in Barkin Ladi LGA of the State, which led to the killing of over 20 persons.
The protesters, who situated themselves at the Unity Gate and Transcop Hilton Hotel Abuja, succeeded in getting the attention of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and presented their petition to him.
The protesters carried placards with thought-provoking inscriptions like, “How many more do we have to bury”, with a banner also bearing photographs of victims of the killings.
The copies of the petition submitted to Ban Ki-Moon, and also made available to journalists, Tuesday, reads, “We bring you greetings from the traumatized men, women and children of Plateau State. Permit me, sir, to give a summary of the nightmare that our lives have become in the past decade”.
Mrs. Kate Pam, who spoke on behalf of the group added, “The attack on our villages started over 10 years ago by Fulani herdsmen whom we willfully gave our land as pasture for their livestock. Things got to a climax on the 10th March 2010 with the Dogo Nahawa massacre, where over 500 men, women and children were slaughtered in a cowardly dawn attack. From then on, we have not known peace. Our tormentors have moved from village to village, killing, maiming, looting, shooting, burning.
“From May this year, the attacks on our villages have increased in frequency and intensity. The people of Riyom and Barkin Ladi are worst hit. An average of 10 people are killed every week. On the 2nd of May 2015, 27 people were massacred in a COCIN Church in Foron. Amongst the dead were the pastor of the church, Rev. Luka Gwom, and a young woman who only just got married two weeks earlier. Two days later 30 people were killed in Zakupang in Barkin Ladi LGA.
“Another attack on Kakpwis village left two men dead. The villages in Barkin Ladi have continued to suffer these attacks, at least twice every week.
“On the 29th of May 2015, over 500 gunmen invaded Shonong village, leaving a trail of corpses, ashes and smoke. That attack left over a thousand people displaced with about 300 houses razed to rubble. The month of June has also been a nightmare for the people of Barkin Ladi and Riyom. Over 20 villages have been attacked in well-coordinated attacks. In the first 10 days of July, we have witnessed quite a number of attacks already.”
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