By Muhammad Sabiu
No fewer than 17 people have been killed and 85 buildings torched in the recent violence that erupted in two local government areas of Plateau State: Bassa and Riyom.
After an emergency security meeting, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, confirmed this to journalists at Government House, Jos.
“There were attacks specifically at Jebbu Miango on Saturday night, July 31, in which five people were killed and about 85 buildings burnt.
“The next morning, the attacks continued at Tambora in Riyom LGA where 12 people were killed and some houses destroyed,” Mr Egbuka said.
He also stated that some security personnel were killed in the violence, adding that Governor Lalong has ordered security agents to ensure normalcy in the affected areas and make sure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
He said, “His Excellency (the governor) has read a riot act to us that we should move out and within two weeks bring to book all those that have perpetrated the attacks. This would be done.”
This didn’t come as a surprise since Plateau State is known for ethno-religious violence in the past.
