"Professional, Armed Non-Residents Of Plateau State Responsible For 45 Deaths" – Senator

A Plateau State representative in the National Assembly, Senator Gyaang Pwajok blamed the "professionally-trained, fully-armed non-residents of Plateau" for the gruesome Monday and Tuesday attacks on four villages that resulted in multiple deaths.

Addressing the press in Abuja, Mr. Pwajok said the armed attacks on Tatu, Rawuru, Bok, and Dorang villages claimed lives of 45 people, ending the relative peace and calm being enjoyed by his people.

Although the "key stakeholders" in the state had agreed to maintain the peace, "agents of peace are turning the hands of the clock, backward."

It is a dangerous phenomenon, he said, when professionally-trained armed thugs are hired to slaughter harmless old people and children in their sleep.

"Many people had fled the villages while others, including a man, his wife and five children, were burnt beyond recognition during the attack which lasted over one hour," he lamented.

Mr. Pwajok said media reports wrongfully described the attackers as unknown men. According to him, the state governor had raised the alarm a day before the attack - but necessary agencies, who should have acted on the alert and prevented the unfortunate incident, ignored it.

He said, "This is an organised and coordinated simultaneous attack. The development is condemnable. Media reportage is about figure and not specific individuals who were victims. Most of the victims were children below 10 years.

"The Peace process, which is on course, is threatened now because the identities of the attackers are not known because they are external organised terrorist squad."

Punch