Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia on Sunday night, invaded the Ajing community, in Panyam District of Mangu local government area of Plateau State, killing nine people, injured hundreds of others while also setting many homes ablaze.
Surviving residents narrate that the attackers who came in large numbers, were heavily armed and shot sporadically as they lived from one end of the village to another.
A resident who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity, said the attack forced the people to run into nearby bushes with many of them cut down by bullets.
“They were killing people from a distance. The locals could not access them from where they were shooting. Moreover, it was dark. The guns they used were more sophisticated than AK-47,” he said.
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“Sixteen houses were burnt. The Royal Father of the district, traditional rulers and security operatives went to the scene but did not stay for up to 10 minutes and came back.”
Another resident said the attackers had a field day, storming the homes of victims, stealing goats, fertilizers and other items.
“The building of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and other properties were burnt, while farm crops were destroyed,” he said.
In another incident on Monday, two youths were reportedly killed by soldiers at a check point at Maraban Jama’a along the Jos-Abuja highway.
According to eyewitness, the trouble started when the youths were part of mourners on their way back from a hospital, got to the checkpoint manned by soldiers with the soldiers ordering them to dismount from their motorcycles and push them to the other side, a development which led to misunderstanding and eventual clash.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the clash and the killing of the youths, said many people were also injured in the clash.
“The victims were among other mourners who were in a procession from Zawan Mortuary for a burial of a relation at Kuru Community in Jos South LGA,” Tengwong said.
“But on approaching the OPSH checkpoint, a military officer pointed a rifle at the mourners that they must all come down and push their motorcycles which had never happened before now.
“When they asked him as to the rationale behind the unusual confrontation and unilateral order, surprisingly, the officer unprovokedly opened direct shot at the victims, leaving one dead and another injured despite been told that it’s a funeral procession that is passing by.
“What is also baffling is that funeral processions have never had such confrontation or prohibition either by order or convention from the security agents at this or any other checkpoint in Jos and its environs.
“Another unfortunate development is the destruction/burgling of homes, church auditorium, shops and property of people around the Mararaba-Jama’a after the tragedy.”
