At a time when Plateau people are mourning the gruesome murders of their kinsmen by Fulani militia in Shonong village of Riyom Local Government Area, another very deadly attack has taken place in the same Riyom Local Government Area. In this attack, several innocent people (up to 33) were again hacked to death including a soldier and a policeman.

The clandestine attack was said to have been launched on ethnic groups in Rajak and Attakar villages of Plateau state by Fulani herdsmen. Atakar is the same community in which a Chinese contractor was gruesomely murdered last week, as he and his two colleagues worked on the railway tracks in the area (the two colleagues were also critically injured). 

At a time when Plateau people are mourning the gruesome murders of their kinsmen by Fulani militia in Shonong village of Riyom Local Government Area, another very deadly attack has taken place in the same Riyom Local Government Area last night, Monday 03 February 2014. In this attack, several innocent people (up to 34) were again hacked to death including a soldier and a policeman.

The clandestine attack was said to have been launched on the Rajak and Attakar villages of Plateau state by Fulani herdsmen. Atakar is the same community in which a Chinese contractor was gruesomely murdered last week, as he and his two colleagues worked on the railway tracks in the area (the two colleagues were said to have been critically injured). 

Speaking to newsmen today, the member representing the area in the Plateau state house of assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem confirmed the incident and called for reflection and calm. Callng on people to remain security conscious and avoid taking the law into their hands. He said the two security personnel killed were members of Special Task Force (STF).

He confirmed that the entire area had been razed down and that scores of people were still missing or critically injured. He called on the federal government to deploy more troops and commence air patrols across the area.

A source who craved anonymity confirmed to newsmen that the Fulani militia had killed 6 persons in Kirim, 22 in Mayit and 5 in Danti all of Riyom local government area, but that none of the invaders were caught or arrested.

Another military source stated that the attack on Zangan in Kaduna state was fiercely resisted by security agents that forced the attackers to retreat, saying, “That’s what saved the Zangan village but they killed one person and burnt down over 20 houses.”

At the time of filing this report Plateau State Police Command had confirmed the attacks, but said it has not received actual figures of those that were killed in the villages. News reaching us indicates that a mass burial of the dead has already been undertaken, except for the dead security operatives. 

In the last two weeks alone, over 70 people have been gruesomely killed by marauders on the Plateau and we continue to ask this question; For how long shall these innocent people continue to be killed before Government finds a solution? 

For related stories, see: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/lifestyle-mob/item/767-the-real-extent-of-the-carnage-in-shonong

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Fresh attack: 34 people killed in Riyom LGA including security operatives