Mr Maren Aradong, the Village Head of Hurti in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, has revealed that 40 people were killed and over 1,000 residents displaced during a brutal attack by gunmen on several communities last week.
Aradong made the disclosure on Sunday in Jos while receiving Mr Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who led a government delegation on an assessment visit to the affected communities.
The coordinated attacks, which occurred on April 2, targeted Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and other surrounding areas. The assailants, reportedly in large numbers and riding motorcycles, stormed the villages around 3 p.m., unleashing chaos and destruction.
“In Hurti alone, these gunmen killed more than 40 people and displaced more than 1,000 persons,” Aradong said. “They also burnt 383 houses, destroyed foodstuff, and looted other valuable items.”
He further condemned the attacks, describing the destruction as unprecedented, and called for the deployment of more security forces to forestall future incidents.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang had earlier described the wave of violence in the state as a coordinated criminal activity sponsored by “conflict merchants”, dismissing claims that the incidents were farmer-herder clashes.
Also speaking during the visit, Brig.-Gen. Gagji Shipi (retired), Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, a Plateau State-owned security outfit, lamented that the incident was a major blow to the state’s ongoing peacebuilding efforts. He assured the community that steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence.
Jatau, while commiserating with the victims’ families, reiterated the state government’s commitment to restoring peace and providing relief. “It is unfortunate that in this time and age, people still resort to such brutal violence,” he said. “We are here with some relief materials to cushion the immediate hardship, pending more lasting interventions.”
Among the items distributed to displaced residents were mattresses, sleeping mats, bags of rice, beans, maize, noodles, pasta, buckets, soaps, and blankets.
Jatau also called on the Federal Government to provide additional support to help the victims rebuild their lives and communities.
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