Again, Gunmen Kill 10 in Fresh Attacks in Plateau

Lawmaker calls on Nigerians  to defend selves

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos  and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

Gunmen have, again, killed 10 including an eight-month-old baby in fresh attacks in Farin Lamba village of Jos South Local Government Area and Wereng-Rim of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This is just as member Representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State in House of the Representatives,  Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, has called on innocent Nigerians, particularly Plateau villagers being  killed to rise  and defend themselves against incessant attacks.

At Farin Lamba, the attackers reportedly drove into the community in a Vectra car and shot sporadically at the victims who were heading home after the day’s activities at about 9.00pm on Sunday night, and then drove away after killing eight. At Wereng-Rim, the attackers, who rode on motorcycles into the community at about the same time fired gunshots at two women on the street killing them on the spot.

Lamenting the persistent attack on his people, National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), Mr. Rwang Tengwong said it was painful that on a daily basis, the people have to bury their loved ones that are killed in terror attacks on innocent citizens.

He said: “This is as the bandits have continued to unleash terror on Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state in a strange dimension since after the 2023 general election.

“The eight-month-old baby was sick and was taken to the clinic by her father. They were on their way back when they met their untimely death. Also, there have been persistent ambushes and killings along the Abuja highway by the same assailants.

“Before now, the attackers have deliberately destroyed our farmlands by grazing their cows on over 300 hectares of our farmlands. This is unacceptable.

“However, the pronouncement by the new General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar during an on-the-spot assessment at Sabon Gari, when he said he would  deal ruthlessly with the criminal elements and restore peace to communities is a cheering news to us.”

Tengwong expressed the belief that with the commitment from the new GOC lasting peace will be restored soon. He also commended the federal and state governments for deploying Mobile Police Officers to some communities that have been under frequent attacks.

“We appeal for the deployment of more personnel to cover communities in Barkin Ladi and Jos South Local Government Areas as this will drastically reduce the attacks.

“We are also confident that the new service chiefs will come up with new strategies to address the security situation in the country and particularly, in Plateau State,” Tengwong said.

Meanwhile, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos,  while expressing sadness over incessant attacks, especially the recent one in Mangu Local and Sunday in Farin Lamba Jos South where a total of 19 persons were killed respectively, in a press statement issued in Jos yesterday  has also urged Nigerians to protect themselves based on the Nigeria Constitution, saying every citizen had the right to self-defence and the right to exercise it.

The lawmaker said: “ Innocent citizens are being attacked and killed on a daily bases in Plateau State particularly in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu, hundreds have lost their lives since May 2023, and villagers can’t go to the farm, several displaced person camps, land taken over, farmlands destroyed, what a wicked world.”

“Just on Saturday, 12 persons were killed in Mangu and also yesterday night seven of my Constituents who are miners were targeted and gunned down. this is sad, barbaric and condemned. Amongst those killed, yesterday night include; 1. Ishaya David 25 from, Tana,2. Paul Adamu Dangyuruk 23, 3. Bitrus mancha Dantou, 4. Davou Boyi 40 from Dawurum, 5. Joseph John 39 from Dawurum, 6. Timothy Peter 35 from Dawurum. All in Turu, Jos South LGC of the State”

“Most of my Constituents now live in fear of bandits, and the attacks are now daily. In the face of this kind of breakdown in the will and capacity of the government to protect the people and their communities, law-abiding citizens must organize to protect themselves. The point here is when the government failed in its constitutional role to protect its people, citizens have a legitimate duty in law and morality to ensure the continuity of human life”

Furthermore, he stressed that “Self-defence is indeed a constitutional right. Under section 14(2)(b) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Accordingly, section 17(2)(b) of the same constitution requires that “the sanctity of the human person shall be recognized” and to reinforce this, section 33(2)(a) makes self-defence lawful when undertaken in “defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property.”

“I want to call on all Plateau Citizens to be alert and defend themselves against attackers, and all Plateau State Citizens must unite to defend the land, we are Peaceful People, but our inheritance which is our land will never be taken by force.”