As part of ViewPointNigeria’s duty to continue profiling the killings and injustices meted out by the persistent attacks in Plateau – we profile Geoffrey a 12 year old boy from Robb village of Barkin Ladi LGA. Geoffrey was ambushed, attacked and left for death by suspected Fulani herdsmen on his way home from an errant mid last month.

He was shot multiply in the jaw and the upper lip and was left to die, but luck ran his way when other villagers found him laying in the pool of his blood several hours later. Geoffrey is currently at the Jos university hospital receiving treatment and is making very good recovery as evidence by the attached picture.

The plight of Geoffrey was brought to our attention by Mr. Dachung Bagos, who shared the child’s photo on Facebook and wrote:

“On my visit to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), I met this young chap Geoffrey from Robb in Barkin Ladi.  Geoffrey is a 12 years old boy, who early last month he was ambushed and attacked around 4pm on his way home by suspected fulani herdsmen who as usual, were lying in wait in the bush to maim and kill their victims. Geoffrey was shot in the jaw and his upper lip, with the side of the eyes cut deeply and was left lifeless thinking he was dead. 

To cut the story short, so far, Geoffrey has gone through two constructive surgeries with more still being planned. It is really sad and unfortunate that even children are being maimed and killed as part of the pogrom and genocide being perpetuated by these suspected Fulani militia. I couldn’t help by wander what this boy has done to deserve this inhuman and wicked treatment -any attack that seeks to wipe defenceless children can only described in mean terms as genocidal. 

As it stands today, children in Barkin Ladi and Riyom are almost wiped out in over 50 villages that are destroyed, the ones left are in IDP camps. Let’s make Geoffrey smile again. I believe God has a plan for Geofry to be someone great in future so let’s put our hands together and support him to be healed and go to school.”

In a separate post equally shared on Dachung Bagos’ page by Goshwe Simi Angeline – A small child (perhaps 5 – 7 years old), who was the only survivor in one of the numerous fulani genocidal attacks in Riyom was profiled. The now orphaned child can be seen lying hopelessly on the floor staring helplessly at the camera. Goshwe who shared this picture wrote:

This kid is the only survivor of this family that was completely wiped out in the senseless killings in Riyom LGA of Plateau State Nigeria…we met this orphan last week Wednesday when Berom Progressive Minds(BPM) in collaboration with Simji Girl-child Empowerment Initiative(SGEI), went for a medical outreach…SGEI is working out a plan to adopt this Kid and other orphans from Riyom with your kind support and good will…

Any donations of cash or kind you can make to assist with the hospital bills or the resettlement of these young fellows will be gratefully acknowledged. Nothing will be termed small, so if you wish to assist in anyway, please do contact Mr. Dachung Bagos at https://www.facebook.com/dachungb or drop a message on here and we’d make the necessary contact.

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Graphic: 12 year old boy shot in the jaw and upper lip by suspected herdsmen