106 killed in Taraba, Plateau state

firstclassnewsline.net

Several of the people killed were recorded in Karim Lamido,then Takum
local government areas of Taraba State and 30 in two villages at the
Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
It was learnt that suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Vat and
Zakupang , killing Pastor Luka Gwom of the Church of Christ in Nation
and 29 others in the early hours of Monday.
Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, told our
correspondent in Jos that the herdsmen took the action following the
theft of about 400 of their cows. More than 300 of the stolen
cows, according to him, were later found and returned to their owners.
He explained that the cows were stolen in Jos East and taken to
Barakin Ladi, a development that made the herdsmen to launch the
attacks.
The Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Emmanuel Lomang, who also confirmed
the incident to journalists in Jos, said the attackers killed 17
people in Vat and 13 others in Zakupang, where the Minister of Water
Resources, Serah Ochekpe, hails from.
Lomang decried what he called "incessant attacks" on his people
and challenged the security agencies, especially the Special Task
Force to arrest the perpetrators.
The village head of Kapwen in Foron District, Gwom Ishaku Pam,
confirmed Gwom's death.
He added that a lady, Pualina, who got married two weeks ago, was
among those killed by the herdsmen.
Pam said the series of attacks on the villagers had been causing
them sleepless nights.
Efforts to contact the state Police Public Relations Officer,
Emmanuel Abuh, proved abortive as his telephone could not be
reached.
The latest Plateau incident came as the Taroh people in Wase condemned
the invasion of three of their communities by soldiers on reprisal on
Saturday.
The soldiers were said to have arrived Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata in
about 40 vehicles following reports of alleged killing of six of
their colleagues at Angwan Nanmi in Karin Lamido LGA.
Although Iweha said that 28 people were killed, the traditional ruler
of Kadarko, Lot Nde, put the figure at 39.
The STF spokesman added that the soldiers, who destroyed an armoury
in Kadarko, had succeeded in flushing out militiamen that had been
terrorising people along the Plateau -Taraba border.
He said, "I want to give you an update on the military operation to
flush out militia from Kadarko. I wish to let you know that the
operation is completed and soldiers killed 28 of the militia. One
soldier was killed in the encounter. Our men also destroyed an armoury
used by the militiamen in Kadarko.
"The incident actually started on April 28 when the militiamen
ambushed and killed six soldiers. The manner these soldiers were
killed was dehumanising because their eyes were plucked out; heads
decapitated and their bodies severed.
"Four of our men are still missing. All these prompted the 3 Armourd
Division and STF to carry out an operation to flush out these
militiamen.
"We have now completed the exercise and calm has been restored to the
area. We implore residents to cooperate by giving us information
that can help us to do our job."
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights,
Beni Lar, condemned the invasion , saying it was a conspiracy
against the Taroh.
Lar, in a statement in Jos on Monday, vowed to report the incident to
the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and the
National Human Rights Commission.
"This attack is a serious violation of human rights to and an attack
against humanity," the lawmaker added, calling on relevant
government agencies to investigate it.
Like Lar, the Secretary General of Ngwang Ishi 'O' Taroh, Pastor
Nanlir Napbut, described the killings as genocide against the Taroh.
In Karim-Lamido LGA of Plateau State, 27 people also lost their
lives following a reprisal by the military on Saturday.
Firstclass learnt that the suspected Fulani gunmen had ambushed and
killed six soldiers between Amar and Kambari villages in the council.
Three other soldiers were reported missing after the incident but
their bodies were later found in bushes.
The soldiers were said to be on a routine patrol of the area when they
were ambushed and killed.
The Chairman of the LGA, Bobboi Bendu, could not confirm the
casualty figure, but he said there was an exchange of fire in the
area.
"Two villages were razed but I can't tell the exact number of
casualties at the moment. The report I am getting indicates that some
persons were killed," he added.
In Takum LGA, 21 people were killed on Sunday by suspected Kuteb youths.
The youths were said to be also on a revenge mission over the killing
of 13 of their kinsmen along the Takum-Katsina-Ala Road and
Takum-Kashinbilla Road by gunmen on Friday and Saturday .
It was gathered that while the soldiers were in search of their
missing colleagues, suspected gunmen opened fire on them but they
replied, killing over 27.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji,who said
he was not aware of the killings in Karim Lamido, stated that nine
people were killed in Takum following a clash between the Tiv and
Kuteb.
Tension is however said to be mounting in Takum and its environs as
the Kuteb youths are alleged to be attacking the Tiv.
The development made the council Chairman, Caleb Babafi, imposed a
24-hour curfew on the town.
Meanwhile, a group known as the Concerned Taraba Tiv Youth Frontier,
has condemned the killings in Takum and its environs.
The group, in a statement by its Vice- Chairman, Kater Amah,
called on the state government to quickly intervene and ensure the
protection of lives and property.
It called on both parties to lay down their arms and embrace peace in
the interest of unity and development of the council and the state.
Firstclassnewsline.net