From Jude Dangwam, Jos and From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Plateau Youth Council (PYC) Riyom local government Branch has called for immediate deployment of more securities personnel to the troubled council areas to end the incessant attacks that claimed 58 lives in one week with over 82 houses and properties worth millions of naira deliberately destroyed.

Chairman of PYC, Kefas Davou during a Press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre yesterday Jos the Plateau State capital disclosed that 31 people were severely injured and are currently battling for their lives, receiving treatment in various hospitals. Davou stressed that many were struggling with inadequate resources for better medical care. The economic and social fabric of our communities have been further torn apart, with over 82 houses and properties worth millions of Naira deliberately burnt and destroyedHe lamented that the pattern of the attacks has recently escalated to an unprecedented level of coordination and sophistication.”What we have witnessed as a people in the past weeks is horrifying evidence of this escalating barbarity. Within this short period, 58 innocent people were brutally murdered in cold blood.”These were fathers, mothers, children, and youths, whose lives were cut short without mercy. As I address you, these marauders are in possession of the cellphones of some of their victims and pick up calls that are placed on their SIMs.”Furthermore, 31 people were severely injured and are currently battling for their lives, receiving treatment in various hospitals where many are struggling with inadequate resources for better medical care. The economic and social fabric of our communities have been further torn apart, with over 82 houses and properties worth millions of Naira deliberately burnt and destroyed.”Beyond the immediate physical destruction, large hectares of our cultivated farmlands, representing the very essence of our people’s sustenance, have been mowed down and decimated. The consequence of this recent surge of violence alone has led to the displacement of more than 15,000 people, who are now living in precarious conditions, without shelter, food, or dignity,” he noted.Davou noted that for over two decades, since the year 2002, the council area has been “Subjected to a relentless and systematic campaign of violence, solely perpetrated and orchestrated by armed Fulani militias. This dreaded campaign has been mostly characterized by unprovoked attacks, resulting in the senseless and brutal murder of thousands of our people in cold blood.”The Chairman called for humanitarian intervention to ameliorate the living conditions of the IDPs. “We appeal to the federal and state governments through their humanitarian intervention frameworks, as well as international donor agencies, and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent relief materials, medical supplies, and psychosocial support to the thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and victims in Riyom Local Government. Without mincing words, their suffering is immense and immediate,” he stated.Herdsmen Kill Four, Injure Many Others in Fresh Benue AttacksSuspected Armed Fulani Herdsmen have again invaded two communities in Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas of Benue State, killing four persons and injuring so many others.It was gathered that the attacks took place simultaneously yesterday (Monday) at about 5:30pm, which also left several people displaced.This latest attack is coming barely one week after the armed herders launched coordinated attacks on Tse-Antswam in Naka town, Gwer West and Edikwu Ankpali community in Apa local government area of the state respectively, killing over 58 persons and displaced over 18,000 persons.The fresh attacks also occurred two days after the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN), Benue State chapter, alleged that a total of 1,185 cattle belonging to their members were stolen by rustlers in some communities in Agatu and Guma local government areas of the State.An eyewitness in Agatu LGA who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent on phone, that one Sunday Dutse, a native of Odejo and younger brother to a former chairman of Agatu, was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road in the local government.He explained that Dutse was reportedly displaced after armed herders invaded his community and relocated to Ogwule-Kaduna, also in Agatu LGA where he is currently residing before he was killed yesterday.But another source told our correspondent that the killing that took place yesterday in Agatu local government area wasn’t herdsmen attack, rather an internal fight.”The Monday killing was not as a result of herdsmen attack. It was a case of internal wrangling. The young man who was killed yesterday, was inside a vehicle in the midst of other people where they were ambushed. He was specifically dragged down out of the vehicle by some armed persons wearing masks. You know Fulani can’t wear it when they are coming to attack you.”So, amongst the nine of them inside the vehicle, the armed guys only Dutse and left the other people unhurt. So, we are having an internal crisis in Agatu now. No Fulani herdsman can come to Agatu and kill any Agatu person for now. This is what happened in Agatu between Monday and today being Tuesday”, he said.At Apa local government area, the armed herders ambushed and killed three persons.It was gathered that they first killed two youths in Edikwu ’Icho a community and went further to kill one other youth in Ugbokpo.Efforts to speak with both Agatu and Apa local government councils chairmen on Tuesday morning, were unsuccessful as their cell phones were all switched off.Meanwhile, the Benue State command police public relations officer (PPRO) Udeme Edet could not be reached for comment as she could not answer a call put across to cell phone at the time of filing this report.Vigilante Apprehends Police Inspector, Two Others over VandalismVigilante group in the Demekpe area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital yesterday, apprehended a police inspector and two other suspects vandalising a transformer and stealing electricity cables belonging to the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) PLC Company.A resident in the area told journalists that the incident occurred in the early hours yesterday at about 04:00AM.The resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that a man said to be in his early 50’s identified as Innocent Ishaku was apprehended by vigilante neighbors at the Demekpe community vandalizing electrical cables.He stated that two of vandals initially fled, but were later apprehended and gave their names as Isa and Mohammed well known in the community who are residents in the compound of a popular car dealer Alhaji Dash.In a viral video circulating on Facebook, the said Police officer when interrogated by the vigilante said he has been working in Benue State for the past 10 years having been transferred from Abuja to Makurdi.Ishaku also said he and his accomplices have carried out several cable thefts around Wadata area until nemesis caught up with them.Items recovered from him include, electrical cables and F connectors, a Police identity card with ID number 309976 bearing Innocent Ishaku with his picture attached on it.It has been learnt that they have since been handed over to the D Division Police Station, Makurdi, Benue State.When contacted, the Heads of Corporate Services Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC Makurdi, Dr Adakole Elijah confirmed the incident as true.Meanwhile, all efforts to get the reaction of the Benue State Police Command as of the time of filing this report, failed as the new Public Relations’ Officer, Udeme Edet did not reply to text message or respond to calls out across to her phone.