As I sit to ponder the above theme, I couldn’t contain the pain ravaging me. At a time when the good people of plateau are beginning to heave a sigh of relief following the wave of peace blowing across the state, Wednesday the 26th of June 2013, saw another release of “hells fury” on the unsuspecting people of Langtang South Local Government Area of the state. It was a bloody attack that left scores of people dead, injured, hopeless and homeless. The attack was said to have been carried out by hoodlums suspected to be Fulani Mercenaries. These same assailants having wreaked unprecedented havoc on the people of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Bokkos LGAs in recent times are now swinging the pendulum of deadly attack to the people of Taroh in Langtang South LGA. According to reports, about 6,000 people have been rendered homeless and are currently taking refuge at the Council Secretariat.

According to the member representing Langtang North and south in the federal House of Representatives Hon. Beni Lar, more than 60 people were killed. Interestingly, the special task force (STF) troops were able to kill about 20 of the attackers but some disappeared in the thin air. The questions increasingly agitating the minds of Plateau people are: who are these assailants? Where do they come from? And why do they plot evil against the good people of Plateau?

As I sit to ponder the above theme, I couldn’t contain the pain ravaging me. At a time when the good people of plateau are beginning to heave a sigh of relief following the wave of peace blowing across the state, Wednesday the 26th of June 2013, saw another release of “hells fury” on the unsuspecting people of Langtang South Local Government Area of the state. It was a bloody attack that left scores of people dead, injured, hopeless and homeless. The attack was said to have been carried out by hoodlums suspected to be Fulani Mercenaries. These same assailants having wreaked unprecedented havoc on the people of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Bokkos LGAs in recent times are now swinging the pendulum of deadly attack to the people of Taroh in Langtang South LGA. According to reports, about 6,000 people have been rendered homeless and are currently taking refuge at the Council Secretariat.

According to the member representing Langtang North and south in the federal House of Representatives Hon. Beni Lar, more than 60 people were killed. Interestingly, the special task force (STF) troops were able to kill about 20 of the attackers but some disappeared in the thin air. The questions increasingly agitating the minds of Plateau people are: who are these assailants? Where do they come from? And why do they plot evil against the good people of Plateau?

Thankfully, as at the time of developing this feature story, the Federal Government has responded to the hardship the refugees are experiencing by providing relief materials through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). While I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and barbaric attack, I equally call on Government at all levels to relentlessly work towards curtailing the ugly spate of wanton killings and destruction across the Federation. We cannot afford to trifle with the destiny of Nigeria by engaging in acts that are capable of tearing us apart. According to an erstwhile Governor of Abia state Dr. orji Uzor Kalu, ”No life is more important than the other. The life of a poor Nigerian is as important as that of a rich Nigerian. We need to beef up security all across the country because nobody knows who the next victim maybe.” I am deeply optimistic that Plateau state shall rise again and be taken to a position of preeminence. LET THERE BE PEACE.

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Killing spree on the Plateau -When will it end? By Satmak Dapar