PLATEAU ATTACK: Saraki challenges Buhari as new police report says 86 killed, 50 houses burnt

No less than 86 persons lost their lives following the attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Barkim Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, police has confirmed.

The state Police Command, through Matthias Tyopev, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, had earlier claimed that 11 corpses were recovered following the incident and that nobody has been arrested in connection with the attack.

In a quick reaction to the attack, Senate President Bukola Saraki called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct his security chiefs to immediately produce quick response measures aimed at tackling the spate of killings in the country.

Tyopev, who revealed that 86 persons died as a result of the attack in a later statement on Sunday, also confirmed that six persons were injured, with 50 houses razed.

“Eighty six (86) persons all together were killed, six people injured, fifty (50) houses burnt, fifteen (15) motorcycles burnt down; two (2) motor vehicles burnt down,” he said.

According to the state police spokesman, the dead bodies were discovered by a search party set up by the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie.

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He said, “Sequel to the attack in Gashish District of Barkin Ladi LGA yesterday (Saturday) 23/06/2018 , the commissioner of police Plateau State Command, Jos, CP Undie Adie, after deploying more personnel to the district sent a search and rescue team from the Command headquarters today for on the spot assessment.”

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, had since declared dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi and two other local governments in order to forestall the violence from escalating.

Saraki In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) Yusuph Olaniyonu, lamented the killings in which scores of people were murdered in attacks by unknown assailants on some villages, and said it is important for Nigerians to start having the assurances that the government is decisively responding to the current threat to lives and properties in parts of the country.

“I am very sad to hear the news of the incident in Plateau State. This is very depressing and giving the impression that the country is not safe. The problem of Boko Haram in the North-east is well known to everybody but this killing by unknown band of assailants in Benue, Taraba, Plateau and Kaduna States is now giving another dimension to the crisis. Coming at the time we are getting ready for elections, we need to respond fast.

“If the plan is to develop some long term measures, we also request that the President should mandate the security chiefs to put forward an immediate short term and quick response measure which will restore confidence in the system and demonstrate to the criminals behind this killings the capacity of government to tackle the issue.

“We have to immediately device a plan through which the criminals behind the killings and their sponsors can be nabbed and made to face the wrath of the law. We have to also develop plans to mop up illegal fire arms in the hands of dangerous elements while also stopping the influx of these arms into the country”, he stated.

 

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