Panic As 12 People Are Killed In Fresh Attacks On Plateau Communities

In what will come across as a really startling development, the many residents of Farinkasa Kerana and Sabon Gari communities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, have been plunged in a state of chaos.

They were on Sunday thrown into mourning following fresh attacks by gunmen which left 12 persons dead.

A grieving resident, Mathew Habila, who confirmed the incidents to The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday said the victims were killed in their houses on Saturday night

He lamented that the gunmen also set many houses on fire leaving the two communities deserted.

Habila said ”We have our people killed again in another attack last night. This time,12 People were killed with several others injured, and many houses were burned by Fulani Militia at Farinkasa Kerana and Sabon gari communities in Mangu Districts of Mangu Local government.

“The incidents happened at about 10:30 pm 08/07/2023”

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Alabo Alfred to comment on the incidents proved abortive as his phone lines were switched off when contacted by our correspondent.

Meanwhile, kinsmen of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau state under the aegis of the Mwaghavul Development Association have renewed calls for the federal government to declare the Miyeti Allah Cattle breeders association as a terrorist organisation.

Making the call at a press conference in Jos shortly before the latest attacks, the National President of MDA, Chief Joseph Gwankat noted that since April 2023, members of MACBAN had attacked 53 communities and killed 204 persons in Mangu LGA, where the state Governor hails from.

He said, “It is in the public domain that MACBAN has been hiring foreign mercenaries to attack communities, including ours.

“Our villages have been deserted due to these attacks and have become grazing fields for the  Fulani herders. So far, a total of 204 of our people  have been killed in 53 attacks carried out by them

“We, therefore, strongly suggest that the Federal Government should declare MACBAN a terrorist organisation because of the heinous crimes that its members are perpetrating in various parts of Nigeria.

“We urge the Government to take full responsibility for educating children below the age of 10 who have lost both parents as a result of the attacks, while arrangements are made for the SS3 students whose WAEC Exams were disrupted as a result of these attacks”