Allah Take The Wheels. 20 Killed In Another Plateau Attack!!!

Governor Jonah Jang

No fewer than 20 people reportedly died between Wednesday and Thursday when gunmen invaded Atakar village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This brings to 55 the number of persons killed in the state in recent time.

The killings came as the state Governor Jonah Jang on Thursday asked the Defence Headquarters to monitor the activities of men of the Special Task Force to ensure that their operations were within the rules of their engagement.

The STF maintains peace in Plateau as well as Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa local governments in Bauchi State.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who raided Atakar at about 8pm, claimed they were on bee hunting.

Not comfortable with the kinds of guns the herdsmen were carrying for a bee-hunting expedition, some villagers confronted them. In the ensuing argument, the gunmen allegedly killed five persons.

The incident was said to have angered the natives, who mobilised and chased the gunmen out of the village.

However, the gunmen were said to have returned to the village in larger number on Thursday morning, killing another two persons in Atakar, and 13 others in neighbouring Dajak village.

Member, representing Riyom in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Dem, who confirmed the incident, described the attackers as mercenaries.