Plateau Bloodshed: Over 100 killed by suspected herdsmen
There are reports that over 100 persons may have been killed by suspected herdsmen in Gashish and Ropp Districts of Plateau State between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The Chairman, Public Accounts and Petition Committee in Plateau State House of Assembly representing Barkin Ladi, Peter Gyendeng, confirmed to Punch on Sunday that “the killing started around 11:00 pm last (Saturday) night till this (Sunday) morning. And the killing still continues.”
Gyendeng, who said the killings are a declaration of war on his people, said, “As a matter of fact, the casualty rate is in hundreds; it is more than 100. In one place, it is above 51; in another, over 32 and yet in another area, it is same.
“For now, based on what we have on ground and the corpses that we have been receiving, it is probably over 200 casualties.”
The Plateau State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South Local Government Areas as a result, so as to avert a breakdown of law and order.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Secretary to the State Government, Rufus Bature, said the movement was restricted from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, “except for those on essential duties.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his reaction to the bloodshed, said his government will spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to book.
“The grievous loss of lives & property arising from the killings in Plateau today is painful and regrettable,” Buhari said.
“We will not rest until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice.”
