Four Killed in Fresh Attack on Plateau Community

• CAN raises the alarm over emergence of new deadly sect in Jos

By Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Four persons have been killed in Kai village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Confirming the killings, the state police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr.  Terna Tyopev in a statement made available to journalists in Jos, said one Maren Mahan of Kai village reported at the Barkin Ladi Police that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the house of his elder brother,  one Dauda Mahan   of the same address, shot and killed him  and also killed Mangai  Agowm, 46, Christian Mangai aged 15, and  John Mangai, 10.

The statement added: “On receipt of this information, a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Barkin Ladi Division visited the scene of crime for an on-the-spot assessment. The bodies were recovered to the General Hospital, Barkin Ladi, where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty and the corpses deposited in the hospital’s mortuary.”

The fresh killings came as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state yesterday called on government at all levels, security operatives, elders, and stakeholders in Jos and environs to intensify efforts to ensure that Sara Suka, a deadly sect breeding in Jos, is flushed out, and members apprehended.

The state Chairman of CAN, Soja Bewarang, in a statement made available to journalists in Jos read: “It is with strong dismay that CAN in Plateau State received the shocking news of attacks on motorists, pedestrians and vehicles by a gang called Sara-Suka in Jos North June 18, 2018, at a time the state is enjoying the remaining Eid-el Fitr holiday declared by the federal government to enable Muslims in Nigeria celebrate the end of Ramadan.”

While commiserating with those who sustained injuries in the attack, and those whose vehicles were smashed, CAN noted that the Nigerian Police has comprehended 33 members of the gang.

He said: “CAN is seriously concerned that the so much efforts being deployed by the Plateau State Government for the restoration of peace in the state, could be further jeopardized if thugs are raised and allowed to be bred in the form of Sara-Suka.

“We knew Sara-Suka to be a group of political thugs raised and bred in Bauchi State by a previous administration in that state for the purpose of winning elections, and has caused a great havoc to the state before its disbandment. We later heard that the group resurfaced in Jos, Plateau State capital. And having been dealt with by the security, we thought it was gone, but we were proven wrong by its recent nefarious activities exhibited on Monday.

“We are calling on the state government, elders and stakeholders in Jos and its environs to intensify efforts to ensure that all members of the group are apprehended to stop it from spreading to other parts of the metropolis especially now that we are drawing closer to 2019 general elections, in order not to allow anyone disenfranchise the citizen from exercising their civil rights of voting people of their choice, plunge the state in needless bloodbath and wanton destruction of properties and the return of the callous mutual distrust and religious bad blood which had bedeviled the state for long.

“We are also calling on the politicians to play clean politics and to avoid raising thugs to terrorise the citizens as a means of winning elections.”

Also condemning the recent skirmish in Bassa Local Government between farmers and herders, “We appeal to the state government to redouble its efforts in restoring peace in Bassa by setting up a panel of inquiry to look deeply into the recurring problems leading to crises in some parts of the local government.”

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