5 civilians, 3 STF personnel killed in Plateau attack

At least eight persons including three men of the Special Task Force (STF) were today confirmed killed in Rim, Bachit and Jol villages of Riyom local government area of Plateau state after and early down attack. Daily Trust gathered that unknown gun men, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen had launched a reprisal attack on the […]

At least eight persons including three men of the Special Task Force (STF) were today confirmed killed in Rim, Bachit and Jol villages of Riyom local government area of Plateau state after and early down attack.

Daily Trust gathered that unknown gun men, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen had launched a reprisal attack on the villages over the killing of 60 cattle in Jol village Monday afternoon.

The STF Media and Information Officer, Captain Ikedichi Iweha who confirmed the attack said “five civilians and three STF personnel were killed in Rim, Bachit and Jol villages of Riyom. We suspect that the attack is not unconnected with the 60 cattle killed in the local government on Monday.”

Captain Iweha added that “you will recall that we held peace meetings in the area on Tuesday to ensure that reprisals are not carried out. However, we have restored normalcy and we are aggressively patrolling the areas.”

The Plateau State chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Alhaji Haruna Boro Hussaini however denied that herders had carried out the attack stressing that “why do they always attribute everything that is negative to Fulani herdsmen? Our cattle were killed and we reported to the STF so why will we report the incident if we had plans to attack anybody? We have taken the loss of our cattle as an act of destiny and we have nothing to do with the attack.”