NO fewer than 20 people have been confirmed dead in a Wednesday night attack on Attakar Community of Ganawuri Chiefdom in Riyom Local Council of Plateau State.
The Majority Leader in the House of Assembly representing Riyom Constituency, Daniel Dem, confirmed the figure when he spoke with journalists yesterday. He said the village was over-run in a midnight attack by people suspected to be hired Fulani militia.
Dem said since there had never been attack in the village before, there was no presence of security personnel, an advantage that the militia used to burn all the houses in the village. According to him, "bodies litter the village square. The figure may even be higher than the one given at the end of the day." He commended the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area, saying if not for him, the entire village would have been destroyed.
Earlier yesterday morning, Chairman of Riyom Council, Mr. Sam Gyang Audu, had told journalists that houses were being burnt by the Fulani in Attakar Village in Ganawuri as he was coming for a press briefing.
According to him, more than 100 people have been killed in various attacks by unknown gunmen in the council from January 2012 till date.
Addressing journalists at the NUJ Press Centre, Plateau State Council, Audu said that from the manner and style of the attacks and raids of his people, he smelt connivance of the Special Task Force (STF) personnel and the attackers.
He said that since January 2012 when he came to office, his administration had spent about N5 million for treatment of 50 people who were injured in various attacks.
Audu said having carefully reviewed the activities of the STF in the council and other areas, he appealed to the Federal Government to gradually withdraw the STF from the council and replace them with the conventional police and other security agencies.
The Riyom Council chairman pointed out that if members of the STF are biased in the conduct of their mandate in the state, then his people are not secure with the STF personnel around. He, however, admitted that there are good ones among the personnel of the STF infiltrated by the bad eggs among them.
Contacted for comments, Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, said journalists should stop sensational journalism. "As I am speaking to you now, there is peace in Ganawuri chiefdom in Riyom," said.
