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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Anger and pain have continued to trail recent attacks by killer herdsmen on some communities in Plateau State which led to the massacre of hundreds of people and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
Chairman, Bokkos Local Government Area, Monday Kassam, yesterday, told the visiting Vice President Kashim Shetimma that over 148 people were killed in the local government in what he described as a coordinated attack carried out in 25 villages by the killer herdsmen.
Kassam spoke as the villagers said the killer herdsmen had retreated to the mountains, still shooting and preventing them from picking a few of their belongings from the ruins.
Speaking when the vice president visited one of the affected villages yesterday, Kassam said 88 people were receiving treatment in various hospitals in the state.
Giving a breakdown of the casualties, Kassam said, “In Mangar, 53 were killed; Mbar, 26; Tangur, 4; Bokkos Central, 31; Butura, 33 and Mushere, one. In all, 148 innocent Bokkos villagers were massacred in their cold blood in the unprovoked attack; 25 communities, 1,290 homes, 81 vehicles, 197 motorcycles and 267 water pumps were burnt down, while 88 people are receiving treatment from gunshots.
“From this humongous number and other intelligence, the attacks were well coordinated by our assailants because it took place in all the 25 communities simultaneously.”
Meanwhile, the villagers said they have identified some of the perpetrators of the attack and had also recovered a phone belonging to one of the attackers. A resident of the community, Makut Alfred Mashat, told Daily Sun that one of the survivors, Mr James Makingat, who had a gun shot on his hand, narrated the story.
“The Fulani herdsmen who attacked the village of Dares Mandar and killed 11 natives have been identified. He specifically mentioned the names of the killer herders (names withheld). They are all residents of Fulani hamlets close to Baptist Church in Dares Mandar and close to Angwan Tasha in Dares. They are the ones responsible for the death of 11 Ron natives in Dares Mandar.
“Another survivor, who came in contact with the attackers, said he was lucky to be alive because one of the boys told him to run, while they attacked others and burnt down houses. One of the phones of the attackers dropped down and is in possession of the locals at the moment.
“At the moment, the Fulani are at the rocks of Dares with their families loaded with guns and shooting at villagers that dared to come and get their belongings.”
The vice president visited the troubled spots yesterday to assess the extent of the damages.
