Mr. Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Four persons have been confirmed killed and one injured in two communities of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa local government area, Plateau State as gunmen opened fire on the victims.
The incident reported happened on Tuesday evening at the Jebbu Miango and Nzhwerenvi communities of the chiefdom.
Although security agents did not confirm the incidents as the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Uba did not pick his calls nor reply the text sent to him at the time of this report but Davidson Malison, the National Publicity Secretary, Irigwe Development Association, IDA confirmed the attacks with gory photographs.
According to him, “Four people have been confirmed killed by Fulani Terrorists on Tuesday around 6:50pm. Three persons on a motorcycle were ambushed along Twin Hill Road, Jebbu Miango, Miango District of Rigwe Chiefdom, two were killed instantly and one sustained gunshot injuries. They were on their way from Jebbu Miango to Miango community when the Fulani Terrorists laid ambush on them. The motorcycle was also burnt down to ashes.
“Same evening, two persons were killed in the farm at Nzhwerenvi, Jebbu Miango. Names of victims and ages are 45 years old Bitrus Bulus, 35 years old Yakubu Chohu, 33 years old Friday Gani Kyeri and 19 years old Kyeri Gani. Musa Wah, a 27-year-old young man was injured and receiving treatment in a hospital.”
In another development, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya on Wednesday visited the State Governor, Simon Lalong at the Government House, Jos and assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to work with the State to restore peace and security to the State.
The Chief of Army Staff had delivered a lecture at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru before the visit.
He said the efforts of the Governor in promoting peace in the State through non-kinetic means has been very valuable and key to engendering peaceful coexistence, adding that the Army through “Operation Safe Haven and the 3rd Armoured Division will not relent in its operational duties of dealing with criminal elements who are working against the peace of the State and country at large.”
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Farouk sympathised with the State over the recent attacks, called on citizens to continue to support the military and assured “the security challenges in the country will definitely be overcome with the support and collaboration of all citizens.”
Welcoming the COAS to Jos, Governor Lalong said he was delighted by the visit adding, “though the challenges are yet to be overcome, the Army has made enormous progress in various parts of the country where bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other enemies of State have been dealt a heavy blow.”
Lalong assured the Army Chief of the continued support of the Plateau State Government and the Northern Governors Forum to the army and other law enforcement agencies in addressing insecurity.
However, a minute silence was observed in honour of late Gen. Abraham Luka Dusu, a course mate of the COAS and indigene of the State who died recently
