The Plateau State chairman, Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Mohammed Nuru, has dismissed claims by the police and residents that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the killing of 19 people at Ancha community.

Mr. Nuru also contested the statement by the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo, who has now been transferred out of Plateau State, who had also indicted the Fulani herdsmen.

It will be recalled that the police boss after visiting scene of the incident told journalists during a press conference that the attack was carried out by suspected Fulanis.

“The police commissioner is telling lies. The statement by the police commissioner is capable of igniting another fresh crisis. On what basis will he say it was Fulani who attacked and killed people in Ancha? Has there been any arrest of any Fulani man responsible for the attack?”

He said the police boss should be investigated for trying to cause mischief.

Reacting to the alleged killing of a Fulani boy which had reportedly sparked the attacks, he said three of the suspects believed to have decapacitated the boy are now on the run.

“It is not true that the killing of the Fulani boy caused the crisis. We have a cordial relationship with Ancha community. We were accusing “Dantanko” people for the death of the Fulani boy. As law abiding people, we intimated the police on the death of our kinsman and five people were arrested in connection to the killings but three major suspects are still on the run. So, how could the Fulani have attacked Ancha community,” he said.

Mr. Nuru said Fulanis living around Ancha community are peaceful and would not contravene the law.

“We suffered casualties in the attack, two of our boys were believed to have been killed, one Bashir Salisu and Abdulrazak Adamu have been missing since last Friday till today (Wednesday). Some unknown persons shot dead nine cows belonging to Fulanis around Ancha that same Friday night,” Mr. Nuru explained.

The Joint Task Force in Plateau on Monday announced that five persons suspected to be responsible for the Plateau killings were killed in shoot-out. A soldier also died during the incident, the force said.

The identity of the suspects were not provided.

ViewPointNigeria Analysis.

The attack on Ancha in Bassa LGA has caused significant outcry across the Nation, leading to condemnations and calls for truces.

Shortly after the attack, the erstwhile commissioner of police of Plateau, Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo on arrival in the area and assessing the situation confirmed to news men that the attackers were indeed Fulani herdsmen. However, this pronunciation is said to have irked the Fulani community who then lodge a complain at the Police HQ.

As such, the police commissioner was was sharply reprimanded by the police HQ and was accused to have taken sides in the crisis. He was then warned that his pronouncements would have consequences – hence his hurried transfer out of Plateau state on Monday 11th September 2017 (note: the attack happened on Friday 8th September 2017).

The police commissioner (Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo) was only posted to Plateau earlier this year and it makes him one of the shortest serving police officers in the history of the state.

Above: Peter Ogunsanwo – police commissioner just transferred out of Plateau

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Fulani herdmen did not carryout Ancha, Bassa Attack – MACBAN Chairman