Also yesterday, the herdsmen set ablaze a rice farm belonging to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State at Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area.
Armed men, who locals called Fulani herdsmen, killed at least 14 people, injured scores of others and burnt several houses in fresh attacks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attacks occurred on Sunday and the New Year’s Eve.
Six people were killed on Monday at Nding Sesut village while several houses were burnt.
Also yesterday, the herdsmen set ablaze a rice farm belonging to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State at Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area.
The member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Istifanus Gyang, confirmed the attack.
Also, seven people, mostly youths, were on Sunday night killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen during two separate attacks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A source told New Telegraph that the two attacks occurred simultaneously at Nding village in Fan District and Dorong village in Foron District of Both Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
According to the source, seven people were killed while several others were injured.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mathias Terna Tyopev, said the attention of the command was drawn to the incident by a man named Samson Bitrus.
The PPRO said in a statement that investigation was on to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act to face the full weight of the law.
He said: “On 30, 12, 2018 about 6.15p.m., the Plateau State Police Command, Jos, received a distress call from Samson Bitrus of Gwom Nding village that on the same date about 6p.m., some gunmen attacked a Peugeot 504 station wagon on the way to Nding village.
“The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, Austin Agbonlahor, having received the information, immediately assembled a team that raced to the scene of crime but discovered on arrival that the attackers had left the scene.
“On the scene of crime, three persons were seen motionless and they were immediately taken to the Barkin Ladi General Hospital where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. Three injured persons were also taken to the hospital
“Out of the three persons that were injured, one of them died while receiving treatment. The remaining two persons in the hospital are responding to treatment.
“Citizens are advised to go about their lawful businesses and volunteer information that could lead to the timely arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face the full weight of the law.”
However, a member of the community, Solomon Dalyop, said the Nding village attack was an ambush on a car conveying some church youth fellowship members returning from a picnic in Jos.
According to him, five youths – Miss Favour Nintel, Miss Felicia Nuhu, Mr. Bulus Dung Sunday, Miss Jenet Yakubu Pam and Mr. Jok Danladi – were killed in the ambush.
He also disclosed that in the second attack in Dorong village by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Miss Janet Markus and Mr. Dung Pam were killed.
Meanwhile, the burnt portion of the rice farm, according to Ortom’s Farm Manager, Mr. Kena Iordzua, was estimated to be 250 hectares, worth over N100 million.
Conducting journalists round the burnt farm, Iordzua said the herders invaded the farm with a large number of cattle during the day and set it on fire at three different points.
He added that as a result of the harmattan, the fire could not be put off despite concerted efforts by those working in the farm.
Iordzua security agents were mobilised to go after the herdsmen who shot sporadically in the air as they retreated towards the Nasarawa State border.
The Principal Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties, Mr. Abraham Kwaghngu, described the act as barbaric and a threat to food security.
He said a law prohibiting open grazing of cattle was still in force in the state and should be obeyed by all, stressing that the Federal Government needed to act fast to stop the impunity by the herders.