No fewer than 20 persons were killed by gunmen in a night attack on Ancha village in Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State on Thursd...
No fewer than 20 persons were killed by
gunmen in a night attack on Ancha village in Bassa Local Government
Area, Plateau State on Thursday.
The victims included a four-month-old baby and her mother. Scores of people were also severely injured.
The deceased baby was said to be
strapped to her mother’s back when she (mother) was hacked down with
machetes as she ran to escape with her baby.
There were eight women and five other children among the victims while the remaining six were men.
Security agencies, who arrived the scene
of the attack rather late, have since taken over the village and have
launched a manhunt for the attackers.
However, no arrest had been made at the time of filing this report.
The Plateau State Government has also challenged the police to go after the gunmen and prevent them from escaping justice.
With the heavy presence of security agencies in the village, calm has been restored.
But the village was a ghost of itself as everyone worn a mournful look when our correspondent visited.
Confirming the attack, the Plateau State
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Ogunyanwo, said: “We went to the
village as soon as we got wind of the attack to see things ourselves. We
discovered that people were killed during their sleep by suspected
Fulani men. There were 19 people killed in the attack.
“This attack was said to have been a
reprisal because a Fulani boy was reported missing after he was sent out
to graze the cattle. The Fulani petitioned this police command that the
boy who was missing for three days was found dead without his head on
his body.
“People alleged a ritual attack, but we
are yet to ascertain that allegation. But what followed was this attack
by suspected Fulani men. We are yet to also ascertain who carried out
the attack, we have commenced investigation and that will reveal the
true situation soon.
“As police, we have always cautioned
residents not to take the law into their hands. This Fulani boy that was
found dead without his head was alleged to have committed mischief. He
was not reported to law enforcement agents, some people took laws into
their hands and killed him. That was what must have led to this very
attack.
“We followed the Fulani petition and arrested five suspects over the death of the Fulani boy. They have been in our custody.
“So we are still appealing to citizens
not to ever take the law into their hands, because information reaching
us shows that this very attack was a reprisal over the death of the
Fulani boy killed earlier.”
The Nation...
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