Plateau State

By Muhammad Sabiu

At least twenty two Muslim travellers have been confirmed dead after an attack on a convoy of their buses on Saturday in Rukuba Road along the Jos-Zaria road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Confirming the attack, Plateau State police spokesman, Ubah Ogaba, said, “At about 0928hrs (08:28 GMT) the Plateau State Police Command received a distress call that a group of attackers suspected to be Irigwe youths (predominantly Christian)… attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful.”

“Twenty-two persons were killed and 14 injured in the attack,” he added

However, according to Channels TV, “a local government representative said the toll was higher.”

“Twenty-five people are now confirmed killed,” said the state government representative Danladi Atu, who visited a hospital where victims have been admitted.

In a statement released by Governor Lalong’s spokesperson, Makut Simon Macham, the governor condemned the attack and said, “security has been beefed up around the area.”

Plateau State is known for ethno-religious violence, which leaves people in large numbers dead and injured.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Eight suspects in connection with the murder of three women in Rafin Bauna community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State have been apprehended by Troops of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH)

The arrest was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by the Media Officer of the task force, Maj. Ishaku Takwa, in a statement.

Recall that an incident occurred in which suspected gunmen raided a community, attacked three women on a farm, and instantly killed two and injured one, who later passed on.

In the statement, the army officer said, “Troops of OPSH this afternoon arrested 8 suspects in connection with the shooting of three women on a farm close to Rafin Bauna general area in Bassa.

“The troops earlier responded to a distress call and immediately mobilised to the scene and discovered 2 of the 3 women were shot dead on the spot, while one of the women sustained gunshot wounds.

“Unfortunately, the injured one later died while receiving treatment at the hospital.”

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.