33 victims of Plateau attacks get mass burial
THE
33 people killed in Monday’s attack in Shonong village in Bachit
District of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State were given
mass burial on Tuesday.
The burial was done amidst wailing and weeping by friends, sympathizers and family members of the deceased.
Shortly after the mass burial, the
community leader, Mr. Ilya Vomagai, said the attackers, armed with
sophisticated weapons arrived the community on Monday at about 9am when
most of the able-bodied men had gone to farm.
He said that the armed men descended on the people, most of whom were the aged, women and children and massacred them.
Illiya said, “The attackers had a field
day and also burnt some of those killed beyond recognition. The attack
lasted for three hours but was later repelled by men of the STF.”
Meanwhile, the Plateau State government
on Tuesday described the attack as barbaric and called on the police to
fish out the killers.
Our correspondent gathered that 13 more
bodies were discovered in a bush by the villagers with 10 of them burnt
beyond recognition. This is contrary to claims by the Special Task
Force that only 16 people were killed while five were wounded.
The government, in a statement signed by
the state Commissioner of Information, Mr. Yiljab Abraham, on Tuesday
said the unprovoked killing and burning of houses and food crops were
highly provocative, condemnable and barbaric.
According to the statement, “It is
becoming increasingly apparent that the attackers’ tactic is to displace
communities and ultimately occupy their homes by striking them with
terror and unwarranted fury.
“However, this will not succeed due to security measures being taken and increased community vigilance.”
Abraham added that the state government
was working with the various security agencies to adopt extra measures
to defeat this emerging insurgency.
However, the spokesperson for the Lagos
State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Information,
Strategy, Security and Publicity, Mr. Segun Olulade, has accused the
Federal Government under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan
of deliberate negligence of killings and insecurity in Plateau State.
The lawmaker, who represents Epe
Constituency II, lamented that it was improper for the Federal
Government to underplay the degree of insecurity, incessant killings and
unending clashes among ethnic communities in the state.
He added that it was important for
government to intervene in the violence rocking the state, saying it was
obvious that the governor of the state, Jonah Jang, could no longer
ensure security of lives and properties of the citizens.
He said, “The attacks being carried out
in affected areas of Plateau are not too different from that of Boko
Haram insurgents. Gunmen often troop into villages, numbering hundreds
and start shooting sporadically in commando-like manner, mostly while
innocent people were asleep or have gone to farm, leaving hundreds of
people dead and their houses burnt to ashes.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/33-victims-of-plateau-attacks-get-mass-burial/
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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