At least three persons were killed while more than 20 houses were razed during a bloody clash between suspected Fulani herdsmen and natives of Miango in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

During one of the incidents, which happened on Thursday night, it was learnt that the suspected herdsmen laid an ambush for commuters travelling from Jos, the capital, shooting and killing the driver in the process while others including women, escaped into the bush.

The President of Irigwe Youth Movement, Chinge Dodo, told Saturday PUNCH that Thursday night’s attack was a continuation of the earlier ones carried out by Fulani herdsmen on the residents.

He said, “The attack was a continuation of the series of attacks on our people. This time around, they blocked the road linking Miango to Vom. The theatre of all these is the road linking Third Armoured Division at DTV, after Optomus Golf Club. The driver and conductor were killed, some of the passengers who were mostly women escaped.

“There were also rumours of kidnapping. As we speak, about four of them were buried on Friday morning, outside the ones buried on Wednesday. Funny enough, the soldiers were looking complacent because they abandoned all the roadblocks.

“At Jebbu Miango, there is a residential area, mostly inhabited by Hausa people under Jos South Local Government Area, the soldiers were withdrawn to go and protect that place. Can you imagine that? The Commandant withdrew the personnel in all the checkpoints and they were taken to protect the area.

“The attackers came to the houses by the roadside, burnt some including the house of a pastor of ECWA church. A popular village head was also killed.”

An SMS and WhatsApp message sent to the Spokesperson for the Special Military Taskforce, codenamed Operation Safe Haven, for reactions on the matter, had yet to be responded to.

The Chairman, Committee on Health in Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Simon Kudu Ahile, confirmed Thursday’s attack, saying six persons were killed.

He said, “I am aware that there was an attack on Wednesday at a village, Jawara near Miango. Many houses were burnt and many persons shot with guns by suspected Fulani herdsmen. I was told that about three persons died and others hospitalised.

“However, I was also told that there was a reprisal from Irigwe people. The Fulani herdsmen were also involved in the fight. I heard that people could not sleep because of sporadic gunshots.”

The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed Thursday night’s attack when contacted by our correspondent.

He said, “At about 1900hrs on Thursday, the Police Division in Bassa LGA received a distress call that Jebbu-Miango was under attack. The Division immediately informed the Command and we mobilised to the place.

“While we were close to the village, the armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen sighted us and took to their heels.

“Three people were killed and burnt by the armed men. Eight others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries. About 20 housing units were also set ablaze. An investigation is ongoing to unravel the remote and immediate causes of these attacks.”

While reacting to the latest killings, the Governor of the state, Simon Lalong, described the incident as “unfortunate and highly condemnable.”

He warned criminal elements “to allow peace to reign on the Plateau or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.”

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Three killed in fresh herdsmen attack in Bassa LGA, Plateau State