Gunmen have attacked and killed seven
members of the family of an ex-cop in the Sabon Layi area of the Barakin
Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack was said to have happened between 11pm on Sunday and 12am on Monday.
Our correspondent gathered that the
former police officer, Lagun Jacobs, lost his parents, his brother, wife
and their two children and another relative in the attack.
The incident was said to be a fallout of
the clash that started 24 hours earlier when two Fulani travellers were
allegedly killed by some youths.
The youths were said to be among those
protesting the arrest of two men, who were arrested by soldiers attached
to the Special Task Force. The soldiers had responded to an attack on
Sho villages and arrested the two youths, while recovering two AK-47
rifles.
But the women of the area protested and
demanded the release of the men, saying that they were members of a
vigilance group protecting the village from attack.
State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Haruna Hussaini, said a
Fulani woman and her traveling companion were attacked and killed by a
Berom mob on Sunday.
Hussaini also alleged that about seven Fulani settlements were burnt down in Luggere Shaw of Barkin Ladi LGA.
He said, “We heard that the STF arrested
two Berom youths, who were planning to attack a community. The Berom
women protested against the arrest and then we later heard that some
people were burning our settlements. We have reported to the STF
Commander, Major-Gen. David Enetie, and he has assured us that the
matter will be investigated.”
But Jacobs, who blamed the attack on the
Fulani herdsmen, said armed gunmen had attacked Sabon Layi community in
Barkin Ladi around 12.45am.
Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Emmanuel
Loman, on Monday said the attack started around 11pm on Sunday and seven
members a family were killed.
He said, “The attack by the Fulanis
started since last week in some villages and continued again yesterday
(Sunday) around 11pm when Baba Jacob and seven members of his family
were attacked by the same Fulanis.”
Loman said he had informed the
authorities concern to take action on the behaviour of some of the STF
members in the Barkin Ladi LGA, saying the attackers were well known to
them.
Executive Director of a non-governmental
organisation, Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, said one member of
the family survived the attack and was being treated at a hospital.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP
Emmanuel Abuh, however, said that six people were killed while the
seventh was undergoing treatment.
STF spokesman, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, while defending arrest of the youths, said that no law allows anybody to be handling AK-47.
Iweha called on the people to allow
security agencies discharge their duties by giving timely and useful
information security agents.
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