• Attackers came in over 20 bikes – Jatau
• How SSG, journalists, others escaped ambush
• District head pleads for more security forces
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Survivors of the deadly attacks on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State have been recounting their ordeals and counting their losses, following the killing of scores of local residents and massive destruction of homes and other belongings, among others.
The attackers invaded five villages – Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna (Tagai), Hurti as well as Tadai in quick succession.
The attacks, which started on Wednesday April 2, led to the killings of dozens of residents and the hospitalization
Banghasa Tanguk Samuel, one of the survivors of the attacks on Hurti community in Manguna district, told Saturday Sun how his uncle, a school principal was killed.
“It was on Wednesday, around 3:45pm. we just heard gunshots, random firing, and we started running. Some of us managed to escape when they started killing everybody around. I lost my uncle, Simon Bangas, who was the principal of Government Secondary School, Manguna.
“We lost about 35 people in total; 32 of them were buried here. Another three were found later in different places, already decomposing. So we couldn’t bring them here for the mass burial. After the mass burial, we still went out for another search and recovered the remaining three.”
Even as the Bokkos community continues to mourn their dead, the security situation in the area remains a source of concern.
Samuel told Saturday Sun that the people were now trying to resort to community policing and vigilantes to complement the eight security officers and one gun truck deployed to the area.
Many of the residents are taking shelter in the IDP camp created in the aftermath of the attacks while some people from the affected communities who escaped to neighbouring villages are yet to return.
At the mass burial of those killed by the attackers, Michael Yohana from Hurti village, recounted the shocking ordeals of the day of attack.
“It all started with chaos, people running in every direction as armed men stormed the village, shooting and killing. We fled, and when security forces arrived, they helped us. In the end, 35 corpses were recovered and buried. Eighteen others who sustained injuries were also identified.”
He recalled that some of the wounded persons were taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Cottage Hospital in Bokkos.
“We don’t know the condition of everyone yet. A few people are still missing, about three or four. In my own family, we lost seven people, even as I speak; I’m mourning one of my brothers.”
Even though the attackers accomplished their mission and fled, Yohana said: “We know them; they’re Fulani herdsmen. We’ve interacted with them in the past peacefully, so we don’t understand what triggered this.
“We lived together peacefully, talked, even joked with them. That’s why this attack is so shocking. There was no warning, no quarrel, nothing. We can’t say what provoked it. If there’s anything we did, let their leaders come and tell us.”
Yohana also expressed concern over the rising humanitarian crisis in the affected areas, with mostly women and children at the receiving end.
“Some ran to a neighbouring village called Gondi, and about 700 people are currently taking refuge there, others went to Sha village,” he explained.
The district head of Manguna, Saf Alo Raymond expressed worries over the security situation in the area.
“Our major concern is the people, because of what has happened. There is trauma, there is intimidation, and nobody is prepared to stay in the village. The pressure has been on us, the traditional rulers.
“We are happy with what we have seen from the state government. This is going to be a relief in terms of what to eat. But security wise, we are asking that the government should make immediate arrangements to deploy more security personnel, not just in Manguna, but in fact, across the entire region.”
According to the traditional ruler, the mangrove district which links Nasarawa and Kaduna states are some of the places that need to be secured to forestall further attacks.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Arch Samuel Jatau alongside journalists who were on a visit to the affected communities also escaped an ambush from the attackers with the intervention of military personnel deployed to the areas.
“Honestly, I lack words to express my sorrow or the anger I feel. We got a taste of what the people are going through as we were heading to where the houses were burnt.
“The village head told us that over 300 homes were destroyed, and we felt it was necessary to go and see for ourselves so that we don’t throw figures around.
“On our way to Shohot, we were ambushed. They were armed and tried to block us, but the soldiers fired and the attackers fled. When I looked up, I saw two young men running into the bush, armed.
“The attackers rode on over 20 bikes and opened fire across communities, killing over 40 people.
“They’ve cleared out entire villages and taken over their farmlands. In one home, we were told there were over 26 bags of Plateau potatoes, each worth not less than ₦80,000. These are poor, hardworking farmers whose livelihoods have been wiped out. How do they recover?
“If you want to farm and live with us in peace, you’re welcome. But you cannot come and take over our land. You cannot become the landlord! This injustice must stop. Plateau people are peace-loving and accommodating. But do not come here, impose your ways on us, and expect us to remain silent,” the SSG lamented.
He further noted that governments at all levels must first of all protect lives, feed and clothe the displaced as a way of addressing the immediate needs of the survivors, while urging the federal government to send more security agents to the affected areas.