Despite the relative peace that has been experienced in the Irigwe chiefdom of Bassa LGA of Plateau State, 13 people are said to have been killed in the last 48 hours, by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ancha and Ta'agbe villages of the chiefdom.
The aforementioned chiefdom has suffered unrest about three months ago, which claimed over eighty lives, several villages destroyed and farmlands vandalised.
Our Correspondent gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Confirming the incident, Secretary General of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Comrade Danjuma Auta told our correspondent in Jos on Friday.
Auta said, "Once again the Irigwe nation have to state our pain concerning the renewed orchestrated attacks on our people for no any reason having enjoyed some relative peace that lasted for some weeks now.
According to him, "Just last week, we read on social media the thread send in by Fulani herders to the military, stationed at Ancha asking them to allow for free grazing in around all communities in Irigwe land or be made to face the worsed.
"Although the military dismissed such threat, but the Marauders made right their claims as they attacked Ancha village on Tuesday 23th November, 2021 and killed 2 people.
"Again this same Fulani herders attacked Ta'agbe village and as at now we have already established the dead of 11 people while the search is ongoing, several houses set ablaze", he explained.
"We are worried because time without number we have met at different fora with the Fulani community that we know and have promised to embrace peace, but with the renewed attacks on our innocent citizens, we wonder if the 'peace accord' entered is anything to hold to", he decried.
He however said, "As far as the Irigwe nation has embrace peace and also ready to continue to pursue the part of peace with everyone, we will not close our eyes to the deceit that we are witnessing today.
"If those who are saddled with the constitutional responsibility of protecting us feel overwhelmed and can no longer guarantee us our safety anymore. They should come out publicly and tell Nigerians.
"Our people are beginning to loose confidence on any security outfit since even their presence could not stop, arrest or neutralise the attackers, this speaks volumes of how endangered our people have become", Auta lamented.
"Nigerians should know that, nobody has the monopoly of violence and since these attacks have been taking place, no single Fulani hamlet has been attacked by an Irigwe man", he maintained.
"Sadly, on the other hand, they have burnt several of our communities, set their herds on yet to be cultivated farms, and killed our people, yet we have not said anything.
"We are therefore pleading with the President of our dear nation to come to our rescue before it's too late.
"The security operatives must be made to quickly investigate Fulani settlements fingered to be hosting and training these attackers which we know very well that they are known", Auta stressed.
Reacting to the attacks, Governor Simon Lalong, said, "this is another sad incident which is clearly the handiwork of criminals that are bent on instilling fear, pain and sorrow among the people with a view to destabilising the State and making fortune from their criminality as well as rupturing the substantial peace attained.
The Governor through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, condemned the attack and says there is no explanation that can justify it.
He therefore directs security agencies to take immediate and drastic steps to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that they pay for their crimes.
Lalong said "the persistent attacks in this general area remains condemnable and unacceptable to Government. As such, no resources and efforts will be spared in painstakingly following up on the trail of those who derive joy in attacking and killing innocent citizens and destroying their homes and means of livelihoods.
"I expect the security agencies to deploy everything at their disposal to arrest those who carried out the crime no matter how long it takes. Government will not take any excuse for failure to achieve this directive", he stressed.
The Governor while commiserating with the victims and families of those killed, assured that they will get justice as Government will stop at nothing to unravel those behind this ugly incidences that continue to disrupt the livelihoods of the people of the Local Government.
Lalong also directed the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Peace Building Agency (PBA) to immediately visit the area and assess the level of damage with a view to carrying out immediate intervention and bringing succour to people who are in need as a result of the barbaric attack.
He also calls on the people to assist the security agencies with relevant information that will enable them crack the identity and motives of the attacks.
By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
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