Plateau: Farmer killed, several escape in fresh attack

GUNMEN have killed one person after they attacked some farmers in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

It was learnt that the 43 year-old victim identified as Monday Audu had gone to his farm in Renwienku village, Miango district, alongside other farmers when the gunmen suddenly emerged from the bush and killed him, while others escaped.

The Publicity Secretary for the Miango Youths Development Association, Nuhu Bitrus confirmed the killing in Jos on Tuesday.

The incident, Nuhu said, happened on Monday evening and had been reported to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the locality but were yet to get any response

Nuhu said, “We are still mourning those killed in previous attacks and now. They have killed one of our people again. The latest incident happened yesterday (Monday) evening.”

Nuhu said the incident had raised fresh tension in the community.

John Ize, the elder brother of the deceased, who escaped the attack, said, “We were three in the farm around 2pm when we saw about 15 herders with many cows. We thought they were just passing by while grazing their cattle.

“But suddenly, one of them fired gunshot at my brother who was closer to them and killed him. It was then that my daughter and I immediately dived into a nearby ditch and started crawling.

“As we started running, they fired at us but luckily, none of their bullets got any of us. That was how we escaped.”

Ize said his brother had been buried in the community after his remains were recovered from the farm.

The spokesman for the state Police Command, Ubah Ogaba, when contacted, said he would get to our correspondent after getting details from the DPO but had yet to do so as of the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, a former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has urged Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State not to relent in his efforts at promoting peaceful coexistence in the state.

Kayode made the call on Tuesday when he visited the governor at the Rayfield Government House in Jos, following the attacks and killings by gunmen in different parts of the state.

Credit: Punch