20 Killed In Fresh Attacks In Plateau Communities

At least 20 people, including women and children have been confirmed killed by people suspected to be Fulani militias in separate attacks in Batin and Rayogot villages, Heipang district of Barki Ladi LGA of Plateau state.

Similarly, many others sustained various degrees of injuries while several houses were also burnt in the process .

Dalyop Solomon Nwantiri of the Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCV), confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP. He said the attacks began around 1:40am local time in the village of Batin, located in the Heipang district of Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau state and have continued, with the villagers wailing and crying over their slain loved ones.

According to him, 20 people were killed in an overnight attack by people suspected to be Fulani militias. He said that security operatives were aware of this planned attacks and the movement of the attackers from Heipang to Batin where they carried out this heinous act.

Dalyop further added that they are surprised that the attackers had a field day operation, killing women and children in their sleep without anyone being arrested or gunned down by security operatives adding that the militias were hiding in Heipang before they moved in large numbers to attack Batin.

“People were wondering how come there is large presence of security operatives in Heipang yet the night marouders carried out the killings without security operatives coming to the aid of the villagers.”

“At abaut 1.40 am this morning the gunmen in large numbers invaded Batin village and killed 17 people and burnt down several houses. The security operatives in Heipang were informed about the killings and they rushed to scene of the incident with convoy bearing sirens.”

He lamented that coming to the crime scene with Siren is also indication that they wanted the attackers to run away or flee from the scene before the arrival of the troops.

Dalyop further said when the militias heard the Siren blearing convoy, they fled from Batin to Rayogot were they also killed 3 people.

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youths Moulders (BYM) Rwang Tengwong also confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview that 20 people were killed in the mid-night attack in Batin in Heipang district of Barki Ladi LGA.

The media officer of the special task force in charge of security in Plateau, Bauchi and some part of Southern Kaduna code named Operation Save Haven (OPSH) Captain Oya James also confirmed the incident.

He told LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview that there was an unfortunate attack in Batin, Heipang.

According to him, prior to the attacks, a warning was sent out which the Commandant responded swiftly and immediately deployed troops at the entrance through Jos and Barki Ladi LGA.

He explained that unfortunately, the attackers took another route stressing that it was a guerrilla attack such that it was silent until when the troops heard gun shots and rushed to scene.

The media officer added that before they could reach the scene, the unfortunate had happened.

“The troops engaged the attackers and they now withdrew.” He said.

Meanwhile, suspected Fulani militias attacks have claimed more than 300 villagers in Plateau State since the month of May this year.

The latest ongoing attacks comes just three days after soldiers alleged to have opened fire at a group of women protesting an attack that killed four people near a military base in the Mangu LGA of the state.