CRIME
Fulani Herdsmen Kill 11 In Plateau Community
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The President of Irigwe sociocultural organization known as Irigwe Development Association (IDA) Hon. Sunday Abdu has disclosed that no fewer than 11 persons have so far been killed in Miango area of Bassa Local Government of Plateau State in the last two weeks including two personnels of the Special Tarsk Force code named Operation Safe Haven(OPSH) by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
He said the land has not known peace in recent times owing to the activities of herders, who have continued to destroy farmlands in an attempt to weaken the economic life of their people and leading to loss of their loved ones.
Abdu stated this in a press statement made available to Journalist on Friday, in Jos the Plateau State capital.
He said the attackers had earlier on killed “two mourners at Kpenrie village on March 23, same day three children were also killed at Gbra Zongu village,” of Miango district.
“While our people have continued to remain indoors and law abiding in the wake of the national outcry over the coronavirus pandemic, the assailant Fulani herdsmen have continued each day within the last two weeks visit us with mayhem.
“On Wednesday, 1st April, 2020 Ancha, one of our troubled communities was visited once more in an attack that left three people dead and various houses razed. On Thursday 2 April, we woke up to bury six people burnt to death in Hukke from an overnight attack. Recently also, two young men were murdeed in cold blood in nkyiedongwro while returning from moulding bricks.
“As we prepared this release today, 3 April, the news came in that same Nkyiedongwro suffered another night attack, such that there may be no house left unburnt,” he stated.
He expressed concerned that the renewed attacks on villages by suspected Fulani herdsmen has also claimed the lives of two personnel of the Special Task Force charged with the responsibility of maintaining peace in Plateau State, some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states code named “Operation Safe Haven (OPSH)”, while protecting the lives and properties of their people.
“The dastardly activities of the assailants did not only end on us, as even the security personnel stationed to protect us have tested their venom when two of their comrades were murdered in cold blood. When this happened, we expected a more robust activity by the operation safe Haven to apprehend the culprits and bring their activities to a halt. Unfortunately, this ugly trend has continued.”
‘The entire rigwe land commiserates with the military over the avoidable loss of its men who paid the supreme price while protecting our lives. The Paramount ruler, Braa Nggwe Rigwe, Reverend Ronku Aka, and myself, the president, Irigwe Development Association, have since send condolences to the operation safe Haven over the incident.”
He added that they are worried by the recent withdrawal of men of the Special Task Force Operation Safe Haven from their domain. “When this happened beginning from 21 March, 2020 we thought is was a routine military action, and expected to see another set deployed. But it has been over a week since that action was carried out, and here we are with a resumption of hostilities on our soil. We are confused and do not know what to make of this reality.”
The President accused the Plateau State Government of total silence over the happening in Bassa LGA. “We are deeply concerned about the obvious silence of the Plateau State Government over this resumed hostilities on our soil. Is the government too concerned about the raging coronavirus pandemic that we are almost abandoned to the gruesome activities of the Fulani marauders? If the government does not rise up to tackle this challenge, Irigwe land would be wiped off even before the COVID-19 comes close to Plateau State.”
He appealed to the state government as well as the Military authorities to as a matter of urgency, redeploy personnel to resumed security duties in their land pointing that, “if during their presence the assailiants dared launched attacks on our communities, what more now that they are withdrawn?.
” We are tempted to feel that this withdrawal of troops may have given impetus to the rampaging herdsmen to continue or escalate their campaign of bloodsucking, we therefore appeal that the authorities immediately respond to our cry by returning the personnel.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Ubah confirmed that Police personnel stationed at Miango were asked to rushed to the village immediately. Though no report of arrest was made yet as at the time of filling this report.
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.
A Student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Modupe Ayandare, was found dead on Monday after attending a church vigil.
The death of Ayandare, who is of the Department of Agronomy, was made known by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
“We express in strong terms our dissatisfaction and agony with respect to the death of one of our students, Miss Modupe Ayandare of the Department of Agronomy.
“According to report, the deceased was said to have committed suicide in the early hours of today at about 4:00am after she returned from a vigil in her church.
“The incident happened beside the church she attended, around Spotless Villa.
“The law enforcement agency has been informed already, and all hands are on deck to get to the root of the situation.
“Be assured that justice will be served and the law enforcement agency will undertake thorough investigation,” Mr Emmanuel Olaogbebikan, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the SUG, stated.
He asked anybody with useful information regarding the incident to give to the concerned authorities to come forward.
Also mourning the death of the student, the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS), AAUA Chapter, said the loss deeply affected the department.
Faith Igba, the PRO of the department, said the demise of Ayandare was a profound loss to the department.
Igba urged the members of the department to come together and be of help to one another, asking those going through challenges to seek help.
“During this difficult time, we urge everyone to come together in support of each other. The mental well-being of our members is of utmost importance, and we encourage anyone who may be struggling to seek help.
“Our faculty offers counselling services, and we are here to support you in any way we can.
“Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to Comrade Modupe’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Let us honour her memory by fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for all,” he said.
Speaking on the death of Ayandare, Victor Akinpelumi, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, said that the institution had confirmed the incident but was yet to know the cause of the death.
Akinpelumi, who sympathised with the family of the deceased, said that the institution would make an official statement known to the public as regards the death later.
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