Report reached out that a group of Fulani herders ambushed 5 locals of Jol community, Riyom LGA of Plateau State at about 6:15pm of today, 25th June, 2019 along Vwak-Tanjol road. As a result, a minor by name James Langs, aged 11 was injured and rushed to Primary Health Care Centre of Jol where he is currently receiving treatment.
Mr. Gyang C. Jugu, one of the vigilante called Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq. and narrated that, just some minutes after Six this evening, 5 of our people were peacefully going to Vwak from Tanjol along Vwak-Tanjol road, for no reason known to us, they were ambushed by Fulani herders. One perons has been confirmed injured while others were able to escape with no injury” he said.
In order to reconfirm about the minor’s degree of injury, Mrs. Victoria Bot, officer in charge of the local Medical Centre attested that, “this evening, i received an 11 year old boy who was injured with stones by suspected Fulani herders in an attack that would had engulfed one of my staff and 4 other locals were it not God who saved them.”
Aside the minor, other who were also targeted in the ambushed attack were Nuhu Barnabas Vwak 20yrs, Elisha Biri 53years, Danjuma Pam 60yrs, Zakka Dalyop 20yrs but miraculously escaped and immediately reported the incident to Operation Rainbow Base, a security outfit in the community. It’s further gathered that the said security agency swiftly swung into a rescue mission which is believed has averted an omenious attack being foisted by thirst for resumption of aggression daily demonstrated during daylight and midnights mischievous grazing on done on farmlands and close to houses by the marauders.
In another related development, it is found out that last night of 24rd day of June, 2019, a Maize farmland belonging to Dagwom Jol, Da Danladi Taje who is the traditional ruler of Dagwom Jol community was eaten up during midnight grazing that was accompanied with gunshots, just some metres into the community headquarters.
It’s important to note that as at the time of filing this report, some gunshots were being fired around Rotchun in Rotchun (Rafin-Acha) axis of the community where Fulani reside. A pivlicbattention is also drowned to a fact that ever since farming activities commenced I earnest some months back, more than 20 farms have been grazed upon either in broad daylight or at night times thereby crippling the economic prowess of not only Jol, but also neighbouring villages and communities such as Rim with similar experience of mischievous grazing and intimidation precipitating a armed invasions if not nip in the bud.
Another perplexing development occurred yesterday when Mr Dachung 53yrs of Vwak hamlet was weeding his maize, a group of Fulani herders went and chased him away and pushed in their Cows to graze thereon.
The incidences are becoming very alarming on daily basis wherefore terror attacks usually followed suit, just as records of previous experiences proves such existential propensity of possible aggression on local farming communities whenever willful destruction of farmed crops pervasively.
In the light of the above, it’s passionately appealed as follows:
1. Open grazing be sanctioned;
2. Security agents, especially Mobile Police Outpost be established in Jol and Rim axis to curb down likelihood of any aggression.
3. Recovery of Rankum (Mahanga) and other lands grabbed by Fulani herders through attacks and displacement of locals therefrom.
4. Division Police Headquarters of Riyom LGA be relocated to Jol/Rim axis in order for rapid response mechanism to be on ground to speedily arrest any ugly recurrence of attacks; and
5. Any other measure deemed appropriate in the circumstance.
By
Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria
