No
fewer than 20 persons, among them two policemen, were killed when
gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in Bokkos
Local Government Area of Plateau State.
This came as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, called for a truce in the raging clashes in the state.
The gunmen, who invaded Mangor and Matol
in Bokkos in the early hours of Thursday, allegedly killed and burnt
houses when many of the villagers were asleep.
Our correspondent gathered that the
attack on the communities lasted for over two hours before Special Task
Force operatives arrived at the scene.
The two police officers allegedly died during a gun duel between the invaders and the STF operatives.
A source said some of the herdsmen in the
communities collaborated with the attackers suspected to be mercenaries
from Niger Republic and Chad to perpetuate the act.
However, in a reprisal, the residents
were said to have attacked the Fulani settlements in the town, near the
abandoned Bokkos Fertilizer Plant.
The attack paralysed business activities
in Bokkos as the weekly Thursday market, where Irish potatoes and maize
are sold, was deserted.
Spokesman for the STF, Lt. Jude Akpa, who
confirmed the development, said two policemen attached to the command
lost their lives in the attack. He also confirmed the killing of six of
the attackers.
Meanwhile, the Speaker said the House
would welcome any solution, including granting amnesty to terror sects
in order to end the insurgency in the country.
Tambuwal was in Jos on Thursday to
commiserate with the member representing Barakin Ladi/Riyom, Mr. Simon
Mwadkon, who lost his son.
He said, “All of us are saddened by what
is happening in Plateau State. As we were coming into the state, we were
wondering what has become of a state once described as home of peace
and tourism. However we are not resting as we are working towards
restoring peace to the state.
“All we plead is that every body should
give peace a chance and work with security agencies in the state so that
we will have peace
“I have said it before that we welcome
any suggestion that will restore peace to the country and we will not
rest until we achieve that.
Punch
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