Plateau State: Sad Day In Riyom As Mamoth Crowd Attend Burial Of Newly Wedded Couple

Tears flowed freely as the remains of newly married teachers Rwang Danladi and wife, Mrs Sandra Rwang Danladi, both academic staff of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) Comprehensive School, allegedly murdered by suspected killer herdsmen. They were buried in their family compound Kwi village, Riyom local government area of Plateau State.

The funeral service was attended by a mammoth crowd and was one of the saddest moments in history of Riyom, as the mourners couldn’t hold back their tears despite plea from clergymen. I was told that the couple were gunned down in a broad day light by suspected armed killer herdsmen, who forced their way into the school premises with their cattle to graze. It was further gathered that the heinuous crime took place while staff of the school were holding a meeting to compile results of students for delivery on Friday, 18th August during “Speech and Prize Giving Day”.

The deceased staff had asked the intruders to leave the school premises with their cows. Instead of complying, the killers brought out their guns and opened fire at the teachers in the staff room. This resulted in the instant death of the couple. Mr Dalyop Emmanuel Ibrahim, the vice principal of the school, sustained serious injuries and is receiving medical treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH.)

Meanwhile, the Berom Youth Moulders (BYM) has described the attack as terrorism. President of BYM, Solomon Dalyop has said, until open grazing is banned, the attacks would continue on the people of the state and the middle belt in general.

The Plateau State governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang has condemned the attack and other attacks perpetrated particularly in: Mangu, Riyom, Barki Ladi and Bokkos local government areas which have been targets of the killer herdsmen.

Mutfwang stated this during the inauguration of the reconstituted Plateau Elders’ Forum held at the Banquet Hall of the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos. According to him, there were no inter community crisis and this was purely an act of terror.

“We thought we could put that in perspective so that the security agencies will be up and doing to get to the root of the matter. Hitherto, the narrative had been farmers/herders clashes, but as the governor of the state, I make bold to say that, that is not the reality on ground.”

He further stressed that Plateau citizens are lovers of peace and what has confronted the state is purely an act of terrorism from outside. “I am saying this so that the security agencies will get the correct narrative so that together all of us will rise up with the view to nip it in the bud,” the governor said.

People who attended the burial of the deceased include, the representatives of the Plateau State governor, Hon. Kachollom Gang, Sector 6 Commander of Operation Safe Haven, religious leaders among others.