While the Plateau Unity Christmas Carrol was being rounded off at 10 Commandments on the 1st December, 2024, a group of 6 assailants suspected to be Fulani militants ambushed and hacked dead one Mr James Yakubu, 23 years, a Secondary School graduate at Du’ang hamlet of Kwi Community, Riyom LGA at about 10:00pm.
According to Mr Julius Dung, who narrowly escaped, recounts that, James Yakubu and I, were returning from a Baten hamlet of Kwi Community at about 9:00 or 10:00pm. Unknown to us that a group of 6 Fulani have already laid ambush on our way while we were on motorbike. At about 60 meters into Du’ang hamlet of Kwi Community, my friend screamed out that I should see Fulani. Before I could realize anything, I saw torchlight before me as James jumped down from the Motorcycle. One of the Fulani, who tried to block my way had to edged out when I drove towards him. Immediately I passed, he started running after me while my friend shouted that it’s fulani and I should run. On getting into Du’ang hamlet, I alerted the residents, and vigilante who came out to possibly rescue my friend, but was not seen at where they ambushed us. We started searching for over an hour before his corpse was found and brought to the community headquarters.
Another respondent under anonymity, commended the rapid response of security personnel of Sector 4 of Operation Safe Haven-OPSH, Barkin Ladi LGA, and Mobile Police Unit at Heigwei who, “upon reached out with
distress calls, without hesitation, came and manned the situation,” he narrated.
Aside the rapid response of the security agents, the Sector 4 Commander, also evacuated the corpse to the mortuary to enable OPSH conclude its investigation.
The BYM calls for calmness as investigation is ongoing. However, we passionately appeal for crackdown on attackers, who have continued to use late evening and night grazing to pin-down and lay ambush on unsuspecting residents.
We, unequivocally, wish to state that, should the Fulani continue defying law and order (ban on late evening and night grazing), the BYM would not hasitate to explore the available legal means including lawsuit to stop free/open grazing within Brrom land, since they(Fulani militants) have mastered the abuse of free grazing to perpetrate act of banditry and terrorism.
It’s important to draw the attention of our Youths to, as a matter of emergency of this season, observe the restriction order, banning late evening hours and isolated movement, and intensify vigilance as well as reporting any suspicious movement to security agents so as to avert not only a recurrence of this, but also the renewal of ugly experience of last Christmas-Eve massacres meted out on villages and communities in Plateau State. This is because, local Intel points out to a fact that some terrorists elements of a particular extraction recently brought in arms successfully into the State, possibly to resume their agenda of annihilation.
We are, however, confident that the security formations, especially Operation Safe Haven-OPSH under the Command of Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar, will continue to be on top of the situation, thereby giving us the hope of safety and hitch-free yuletide as well as New Year celebrations if we also comply with security directives given.
By:
Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
National President of Berom Youths Moulder-Association-BYM
