minds of the people of Fan District of Barkin-Ladi Local
Government Area of Plateau State, not for cheer, but for
melancholy. It was a day when 40 of their people, mostly
women and children, were murdered in cold blood by
unknown attackers who raided four villages in the middle of
the night. Among those killed were entire households. And as
has become the norm somewhat, the attackers, said to have
been many, had a field day perpetrating their evil with no
security agent around to challenge them.
About 10 people were injured by the attackers who also set
fire to houses of their victims leaving some of the corpses
charred.
The anguish of the people of Tatu, Rahure, Bwok and Dorong
was palpable and infectious. Emotions flowed as the people
narrated how the attackers unleashed terror on defenseless
women and children. Take, for instance, the story of a one-
year-old who, woken from sleep when the assailants arrived at
about 12.30 am and, frightened at the sight of the strangers,
started crying. This was said to have infuriated the attackers
who shot him tearing his tender and small body into pieces.
The remains had to be gathered for burial.
"A boy of about one year, who was crying when the invaders
attacked the family, was shot at close range and his remains
littered the room when we got there. We are short of words to
describe this barbaric incident", the village head of Tatu, Da
Pam Tsok, said. Tsok said he was lucky to have escaped the
attack disclosing that the assailants concentrated on two
households where they killed all the 15 members.
"The attack was carried out in a barbaric manner that defies
comprehension. At about 1am on Tuesday, I started
hearing gunshots; so I rushed out of my home and headed in
the direction of the gunshots only to see the corpses of our
people who were murdered in cold blood by the attackers. Our
village was under siege for more than 30 minutes They killed
15 people in two households and set the houses on fire. We
are shocked by the attack because we had no quarrel with any
group or person and we have been living in peace with non
natives in our midst," he added.
The story was the same at Rawuru village where a man and
his seven children were murdered by the attackers. A relation,
Job Chollom, said the gunmen stormed the village at about
12.30 am. and lamented the railure of security men whom he
said were not too far away to come to their rescue. He added
that nine people were killed in the village while five were
injured by the attackers whom he said wore military uniforms
and surrounded the village before launching the attack.
The attackers also killed 10 people at Bwok and seven at
Dorong village and had disappeared by the time men of the
Special Task Force, STF, maintaining security in the Plateau
State got there. Interim Administrator of the local government
area, Mr. Habila Dungs, who said he was informed of the
attacks around 12 midnight, confirmed that about 40 people
were killed in the attacks on the four villages. He noted that
security men had difficulties accessing the villages,
describing the attack as barbaric.
The mutilated corpses, some of which were burnt beyond
recognition were given mass burials in the different villages.
President of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, Dr.
Soja Bewarang after the mass burial at Tatu, expressed worry
that the presence of security men "all over the place" did not
deter the attackers. He condemned frequent attacks on the
communities in the state by those who appear bent on wiping
out the people. He called on government and security agencies
to do more to secure the people, noting that killings had
become a source of embarrassment for the country.
An STF statement signed its Media Officer, Captain Salisu
Mustapha, confirmed the attacks, explaining that the assailants
fled on sighting members of the task force whom he said
responded promptly to distress calls. It added that
the Commander of the STF, Major General David Enetie, had
visited the villages to assess the situation during which he
pledged that everything would be done to track down the
perpetrators. The statement called on the people to remain law
abiding, cooperate with security agencies "and jealously
guard the relative peace we are enjoying on the Plateau."
Sunday Vanguard learnt that the STF has stepped up patrol of
the area while more troops have been deployed. The attack on
the four villages, coming days after similar attacks in
Shendam Local Government Area and the alert by Governor
Jonah Jang of security reports revealing plans to disrupt the
Christmas festivities in the state, is setting many people on
edge. Many residents expressed the hope that necessary steps
would be taken to avoid a relapse into the situation of some
years back, when attacks and killings became rampant,
throwing the people of the state into despair.
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