According to research by Plateau watch, no fewer than 54 people have been slain by gunmen in different incidents in the states of Plateau and Benue during the past two months.
This occurred as the police commands in the two states claimed to be using strategies to deal with the problem.
A clergyman, a couple, and their children were among the five people reportedly killed by gunmen on August 7 in Nchya village, Mangu district, Plateau State. Three days after the tragedy, 21 people were killed when alleged Fulani militants and robbers raided two settlements in the Heipang neighbourhood of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
A newly wed was also killed in an attack on Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation Comprehensive Secondary School on August 14 by suspected herders in Kwi, Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. Four days later, two school employees were killed when armed men broke into the building to pasture their cattle.
Additionally, on September 11, suspected bandits assaulted the Kulben hamlet in Plateau State’s Mangu Local Government Area, murdering 10 people.
In Benue State, meantime, gunmen attacked the Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka towns of the Ushongo LGA on July 16 and killed six people. Additionally on August 10, five people perished in two communities in the Guma Local Government region of the state during separate attacks by suspected herdsmen.
Gunmen shot and killed Justice Margaret Igbetar, a retired president of the Customary Court of Appeal in Makurdi, on Sunday, August 20. Her son found her remains at her home on Wantor Kwange Street, next to the Benue State University School of Medicine on Gboko Road.
No less than eight people are said to have killed the day after suspected bandits assaulted two settlements in the Ukum Local Government Area, Chitto and Gbeji. On August 24, armed individuals in the same local administration shot and killed Jarule Likita, a leader of the Livestock Guard.
Less than a day later, six people—including a beer shop owner and a guy getting ready for his wedding in the Chito community—were killed in the Ukum LGA.
Alfred Alabo, a spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, said the command was committed to seeing that criminals were brought to justice when discussing the measures made by the police to combat the insecurity.
“We can’t tell you what we are doing in reality to stop the killings because that would amount to disclosing useful information,” he continued. We are working to prevent other homicides, and we are doing all in our power to do so. The offenders will be taken into custody. We are making efforts, and when we make an arrest, we will make an announcement.
Additionally, Josephine Anene, the police public relations officer for Benue State, said that members of the command were keeping an eye on the situation.
She said, “The cops are working on it, which is why you aren’t hearing about it right now. There are activities taking on there. In Benue, there is a concentrated area of banditry. It is made up and goes by the name Sankara and it’s made up of three local governments. The situation is being handled.”
