Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State
By Raymond Gukas, Jos
Over 15 persons have been reportedly killed in Batin village of Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The early morning attack came hours after the state government inaugurated a Security and Information Centre (SIC) with a toll free line for people to report any unusual security situation around them.
This attack that was reported to be by “massive” suspected Fulani marauders began at about 2am on Thursday even as tension has been building up in the area which is a few kilometres from the airport.
Only last week, some unidentified armed men attacked and killed one person who was said to be on transit and injuried another, a Berom youth organisation said.
As at the time of filing this report, no official statement has been made on the identity of the attackers or reason for the dastardly act.
The state has been battling banditry in recent times, and this has lead to several deaths and loss of properties including farm produce that have been cut down before maturity.
However, the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State, Gyang Bere, said the just inaugurated agency was “aimed at facilitating public access to convey security-related information to the relevant authorities for prompt action.”
The Governor, Caleb Mutfwang said the “Centre will utilize basic technology to establish a toll-free hotline, allowing citizens to share information without incurring charges, using the phone number 080 0000 5555”, the statement added.
Mutfwang encouraged citizens to confidently report security concerns from their local communities, with the assurance that all information will be treated with utmost confidentiality, it added.
A few days ago, the leadership of the Berom Youth Moulder-Association, (BYM) reported that it received a report on an attack around Heipang District of Barkin Ladi.
It described the attack as an act of criminality where some hoodlums attacked innocent citizens who were returning from the popular Kara cattle market in the area, which led to the death of one Umar Idris.
The BYM in a statement signed by Rwang Tengwong, its Publicity Secretary, said the attack was an “unprovoked act of criminality” and is totally condemnable “particularly at a time that we have put behind us incidents of the past to work with government to ensure lasting peace in our communities.”
