Plateau officials rage, Ex Speaker’s House, others razed

Jos, Nigeria: Gunmen believed to be herdsmen on Monday razed several houses in Central Nigeria’s Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Marish and Ruboi villages located southwest of the Plateau State University, Bokkos were attacked hours after 14 people were killed in neighboring Kwatas village.

A Church and Pastor’s residence were among houses burnt in Marish, locals say.

No loss of life has been confirmed but local schools reportedly closed down due to the persistent aggression.

In neighboring Ruboi II village, a house belonging to the former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Titus Alams was razed along with several others.

As of Tuesday morning, there were reported tensions in nearby Marit and Murish villages of Barkin Ladi and Mangu LGAs respectively.

The renewed attack raise questions on the state of security in the state, says Senator Istifanus Gyang, the Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Senate committee on Defence and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District.

“Only last week, Kombun village in Mangu LGA was attacked and now, it is Kwattas and Ruboi villages in neighboring Bokkos LGA.

“Senator Gyang notes with concern how the renewed attacks are coming on the hills of the abduction and killing of Plateau citizens by Boko Haram which were laced with hateful prejudice.

“Plateau citizens are now in double jeopardy. Away from home they are not safe, at home in their ancestral neighborhoods they are not safe,” Gyang said.

The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong had directed securities to hunt down Sunday’s attackers of Kwatas village.

“The State will no longer tolerate the wanton loss of lives,” said Lalong in a statement signed by his Press Affairs Director, Macham Makut.

The attacks are “another attempt by criminals who do not mean well for the State to take it back to the dark days of insecurity that it has been substantially overcome,” Lalong said.

Police authories on Monday said they instantly deployed detectives, conventional policemen and Mobile Force personnel to the attacks villages to restore peace and arrest perpetrators.

However, locals say securities arrived long after the attackers had left.

No suspect has been arrested so far.