10 Killed In Clash Between Christians and Muslims In Plateau State.

Leaders in two villages in Plateau State say at least 10 people have been killed in attacks between the Christians and Muslims living there.

The killings began over the weekend between the Jukun people of Plateau state, a Muslim ethnic group, and the Tarok people, who are Christian.

A community leader for the Junkun, Jawka Baba, said late Monday the Tarok burned down homes in his village and killed six people. Jongle Lohbut, a Tarok community leader, said four people were killed by the Jukun.

A military spokesman said he was aware of the fighting between the two groups.

The attacks centered on the volatile city of Jos, where thousands have been killed since 1999. Religion, politics, grazing rights and economic power all play a role in the violence.

As a precautionary measure in preventing the escalation of the crisis to neighbouring villages, an emergency meeting among representatives of the Taroh, Jukun, Bogghom, Jama’atul nasril Islam, Hausa, Fulani and Jarawa communities.

According to the Plateau State commissioner of Information and Communications, Abraham Yiljap resolutions taken at the meeting include:

1. Stakeholders committed themselves to return home and speak to all other stakeholders to implement an immediate cessation of hostilities;
2. They condemned the illegal use of firearms and called on all communities to seek alternative and peaceful methods of conflict resolution;
3. They have resolved to fight criminality in all its manifestation such as looting of property, cattle rustling, armed robbery and to expose people involved in such acts for appropriate action;
4. Stakeholders also agreed to encourage communities to communicate useful information in a timely manner to the security agencies for immediate action;
5. They called on the appropriate government agencies to extend aid to the internally displaced persons who are taking refuse in different parts of the zone;
6. Traditional rulers were encouraged to see and treat all subjects within their areas of influence as their own, and avoid every form of discrimination.

Nine Killed In Fresh Attack By Gunmen In Plateau State.

Nine more people have been killed by gunmen in an attack on Ratas village of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, just as four beggars were Friday crushed to death near the Jos Central Mosque when a truck driver lost control and ran over them where they were seated begging for arms.

The incident happened at about 4.30 pm.

The killing at Ratas is alleged to have been carried out by the same gun men who killed about 20 people in two villages of Bokkos Local Government area a few days ago.

They were believed to have capitalized on the massive deployment of members of the Special Task Force (STF) from their posts in the area to Bokkos LGA to attack the village.

Chairman, Management Committee of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area Mr. Emmanuel Loman who attended the mass burial of those killed confirmed the attack.

He said the attackers fleeing from Bokkos LGA following the massive deployment of troops to the area attacked the village as they were escaping and raised an alarm that the movement of the suspected Fulani militia had also been noticed around Gashish in the LGA.

He warned that they could unleash terror on the people of the area unless something was done urgently to repel them.

Also confirming the Ratas killings, acting spokesman of the STF Navy Lt. Jude Akpa said the force responded promptly on hearing the report of the attack but the gunmen had fled before they arrived there.

He said members of the STF took those injured to hospital for treatment on arrival at the village.

Armed Youths Murder 10 Travelers In Plateau.

The 10 travelers believed to be entrepreneurs killed in Yelwa Shendam, the southern zone of Plateau State on Thursday evening were victims of the state’s internal crisis, new reports claim.

The victims travelling in two Peugeot 504 cars included seven Muslim men and three Christian women. Reports believe they were ambushed by some youths suspected to be from Tarok, a village, about four kilometers after Walu in Langtang South Local Government area of Plateau State.

According to reports six out of the corpses recovered so far have been buried according to Islamic rites in Yelwa. They were identified as Sabo Yusif, Adamu Abdullahi, Lawal Maikifi, Sale Tori Papa, Habibu Adam and Bala Muhammad.

However, one of the drivers named a Abdullahi Haliru is missing and a search party was constituted on Friday, the identities of the three other victims are still yet to be ascertained.

An unspecified witness said he escaped by a hair’s breath and remembers the attackers were young people carrying AK 47 riffles, machetes and other weapons.

“The Tarok youths attacked and killed the travelers around 4.30pm on Thursday. The victims were traders and they were taking their wares to Dampar to sell at the weekly market.

“The youths were fully armed. Some were carrying AK47, machetes and other weapons. They ambushed the traders and shot them. Those who tried to flee were murdered with machetes. It was horrible. My escape was a miracle,” the witness said.