At least 20 people were murdered on Tuesday night when unknown gunmen invaded five villages in Riyom and Langtang South Local Governments.
The villages attacked in Riyom are Gwon, Gwarama, Gwarim and Torok, in its Rim District, while Gida Bua Village was attacked in Langtang South.
Sources said that in Riyom, I6 people were burnt to death and 200 homes razed, while another four people were killed in Langtang South.
One of the victims, 65-year-old Habila Dachung whose wife was killed in the attack in Riyom fingered Fulani herdsmen and men of the Special Task Force in Jos in the killing.
“I saw them in military uniform”, he said. “These armed Fulanis, accompanied by soldiers, stormed our village to kill our people just like that. Their gun woke us from sleep at about 2:30am”.
Member representing Riyom Constituency and Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem confirmed the attack, saying the victims were mostly women and children and also pointing accusing fingers at the Military..
“I believe the Special Task force deployed to restore law and order are also involved in the killings taking place in the communities”, Dem said.
“If not, most of the Villages were attacked in the presence of men of the STF based in those villages, why are they not going after the attackers if they are not involved in the attack?”
While the villagers have continued voicing their wish for withdrawal of soldiers deployed to the state by the Federal Government, the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos Crisis code named ‘Operation Safe Heaven’ continues to keep mum — a posture it has adopted since the turn of the year despite the surge in attacks.
The Plateau State Police Command, meanwhile, confirmed Tuesday’s attack but maintained sealed lips on the death and injury tolls.
