Despite repeated assurances from security agencies to curb the recent wave of killings in Plateau state, some gunmen have killed the Chief Imam of a Jumma’at Mosque and a commercial motorcycle operator otherwise called Okada rider,in the Bokkos local government area of the state.
The deceased cleric identified as Muhammad Sani Idris, was until his death the Chief Imam of Ndun village in Tangur District of the local government area, while the name of the slain commercial motorcycle operator was given as Muhammad Gambo.
The dastardly act was coming barely a week after about 23 villages in the local government area were attacked with over hundred reportedly killed.
…Security chiefs visit
The perennial herder/farmer conflict has claimed several lives in Plateau state, with government at all levels always assuring of nipping the menace in the bud.
This, again, reared its ugly head on the eve of last year’s Christmas when some yet-to-be identified persons struck killing over a hundred of people in some parts of the state.
And to give some respite to the affected persons, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, had on Sunday, led the service chiefs on an on-the-spot assessment during which they assured of the restoration of peace and nip in the bud the orgy of violence in the state.
Latest killings
Providing some insights into the latest killings, the state chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, said the cases had been reported to security agencies in the area.
Confirming the development, Wednesday, the GAFDAN leader said: “A younger brother to the Imam, Salisu Muhammad Sani Idris, was injured during the attack and currently receiving treatment at Dung Hospital in Bokkos town.”
Speaking further, Abdullahi said: “The Chief Imam and his younger brother were attacked on Monday, after arriving at the community to collect some of their belongings left from the recent attacks where houses of our members were burnt down.
“So, they went there to see if they could pick some of their properties but suddenly were attacked. The hoodlums killed the Imam while his younger brother survived machete wounds.
“The second deceased, Muhammed Gambo, an Okada rider, and also our member, was killed Monday, around Bokkos Market while bringing a passenger to the area. We have reported the two incidents to the Police and Operation Safe Haven in Bokkos.”
Six killed in Zamfara
Similarly, some six people were reportedly killed with another person injured when terrorists attacked a Zamfara community Tuesday night.
The attack took place in Nahuce, Bungudu local government area of the state.
The attack occurred a day after another gang of terrorists abducted an unknown number of motorists on the Gusau-Sokoto federal highway.
In the Nahuce attack, it was gathered that terrorists invaded the community some minutes to 11:00 p.m. and began shooting indiscriminately.
“The attackers faced resistance from security agents in the town but six of our people lost their lives during the attack,” Abdulhadi Rabiu, a resident of Nahuce told this newspaper on Wednesday. “If not for the security agents and vigilante group members, the number of casualties would have been more than that.”
The resident said the terrorists separated themselves into different areas of the town which made it difficult for security agents to arrest or kill any of them.
He, however, said the exchange of fire between them and security agents stopped them from killing or abducting more people.
“We’ve not heard of any case of abduction. Six people lost their lives while one person was injured. He is now at the hospital. The security agents did well because, in the end, the terrorists had to retreat,” Mr Rabiu said.
…Gusau/Sokoto highway
Also, on Monday evening around 7:40 p.m., terrorists blocked the Gusau-Sokoto highway and abducted several motorists going to Gusau.
The attack occurred around Kwanar Sado, a few kilometers from Talata Mafara town.
Rabiatu Shehu, who narrowly escaped the attack, told Premium Times that passengers from three vehicles were abducted by the terrorists.
“We were driving towards Gusau when suddenly a driver coming from Gusau waved and shouted at our driver to return. But we didn’t understand what he meant, so we continued moving until when another vehicle also from the Gusau side alerted us to stop.
“We stopped there with other vehicles until a military vehicle came from Mafara and cleared the road but the passengers had already been taken. We waited for some minutes before continuing the journey. When we got to the spot, we saw three vehicles with all their doors opened,” Ms Shehu said.
A vigilante from Talata Mafara who spoke on condition of anonymity said some motorists had been warned not to ply the road in the evening.
“The terrorists were sighted around 04:00 p.m. returning from Sado where they attended the wedding ceremony of another terrorist but we didn’t think they’d stay around the area to launch the attack. Perhaps, they hid behind the two quarry sites in the area and waited for evening,” the vigilante said.
He said the road has now become “one of the most dangerous” to ply especially in the evening and early morning.
The vigilante said the terrorists have several camps close to the Bakalori dam in Talata Mafara.
The police spokesperson in the state, Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attacks.
The North- west region, especially Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and a part of Niger State, has witnessed a high rate of attacks by terrorists, locally called bandits, for about a decade.
The terrorists kill and abduct residents from communities, schools, places of worship and highways and demand huge ransom before releasing the abductees. (Premium Times)
Falana advocates arm bearing
In the middle of this, Femi Falana, SAN, disagreed with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, over his comments disapproving of the people’s freedom to bear weapons.
While featuring on Channels Television recently in the midst of the killings in Plateau state, the army chief had said: “I do not support that. I think that is a call for anarchy.”
Responding to Lagbaja’s position on same television channels Wednesday, Falana said: “In the first place, it is not correct to say Nigerians have no right to bear arms, apart from the fact that the penal code applicable in the North and the criminal code applicable in the South recognises the right to self-defence.
“In the first place, we have to discuss the rights and proceed to examine the propriety. In other words, if someone aims a gun at me, and I can quickly grab another gun, I have the right to shoot.”
Asked if his position was in tandem with the law, he said: “But you are required to apply for the licence first.”
In a further clarification, Falana said: “I am just saying the right to self-defence which is also guaranteed by the constitution.
“All I am not allowed to do is not use a force that is not proportional to the threat. In other words, if you are going to hit me with a cane I must not go for a gun which is not proportional.”
