By Muhammad Tanko
At least 20 people have been killed following a wave of fresh and reprisal attacks on various communities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State within 24-hours between the previous attack on a community in Langai.
Our Correspondent reported that the latest attack occurred on Tuesday evening in Chichim, a settlement on the outskirts of Mangu town, where eight residents were killed inside their homes.
The Council Chairman of Mangu Local Government, Mr Emmanuel Bala, confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers used knives to killed the victims.
“We have recorded eight deaths in the latest attack which happened around 8:00 p.m. in Chichim. People were in their homes when they were attacked,” Bala said.
However, the violence reportedly began on Monday with an assault on Bwe District, which claimed seven lives.
The report has it that mass burial was held for the victims on Tuesday.
It was also reported that in a separate incident in Langai, within the Gindiri axis, five people were killed and several houses set ablaze.
Mr Bala attributed the attacks to the ongoing tensions brewing between local residents and Fulani herders.
“There have been a series of retaliatory incidents. Miners were attacked earlier, followed by destruction of crops and machete attacks on farmers, which exerzabeted the situation,” he said.
He added that Fulani herders were recently accosted near Sabon Gari on suspicion of involvement in one of the attacks carried out last two weeks, which worsen the unrest.
However, the Secretary of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN) in Mangu, Abubakar Garba, denied the allegations.
“The claims are baseless. Our people are law-abiding and have not attacked anyone. We condemn these acts of violence, we are urging security forces to restore peace in the area,” he said.
It would be recalled that recently Nigerian Times Online has reported the attack carried on a community in the District of Langai in Mangu Local government.
In view of that, a Traditional ruler, Alhaji Yakubu Umar, Madugun Langai said 96 houses were burnt in Gyenbwas village by suspected Berom attackers.
“They destroyed homes, equipment, foodstuffs, and looted goods worth millions,” he lamented.
In response to that allegation, Dalyop Solomon, President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), refuted the accusation.
“Three of our members were attacked on their farms and are currently receiving treatment.”
A local Nigerian Red Cross official confirmed that seven people were killed in the Chichim attack, bringing the total number of deaths in the past 24 hours to at least 20.