At about 3:00am of 4th September, 2019, suspected armed Fulani militias invaded Rubung hamlet of Vatt community, Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State and killed two natives namely, Mr. Musa Gwom aged 55 and John Bulus 20 years of age while one was injured and rushed to the hospital.
Additionally, 120 Cows and 100 sheep belonging to Mr. Luka Gwom, Musa Gwom, Shut Ishaku, Pam Chungwom and Luka Waya were rustled towards Gora and Fusa in Jos East Local Government Area of the State.
In a reaction, Hon. Peter Gyendeng, a member representing Barkin Ladi LGA at Plateau State House of Assembly condemned the act, saying, “it’s a height of inhumanity meted out to my constituents for no just cause”. In the same vein, he consoled with the affected locals to bear the irreparable loss enemies of humanity have plunged the community into.
The message was consolidated by a sermon delivered by Rev. D.D. Nyango who admonished believers in Christ Jesus, never to faint in faith but to count it all joy in persecution such as this. He said, “the deceased have been taken to rest with the Lord who will raise them up on judgment day when their mortality will be swallowed up into immortality”. He also urged everyone who has not yet received Christ as personal Lord and Saviour to so do, because God’s wrath shall befallen his enemies including the perpetrators if they fail to repent.
One of the two survivors of the gory incident responded to an interview that his escape came as a miracle, because the armed Fulani surrounded not only the cattle ranch but also the entire community, and blocked all roads with heavy gun firing that lasted for over 2 hours without any intervention. He said, “the armed Fulani militias strategically stationed themselves with heavy weapons used in the attack. They rustled our Cows to Gora and Fusa as this is not the first time we witnessed terror attacks from Fulani militias”. He added that, “on 19th day of August, 2019, Rubung and Vatt communities were simultaneously attacked by armed Fulani herders. As a result, 58 Cows of Gambo Gwom were stolen while a residence at Vatt was raised down by fire aside an attack that precipitated rustling of 35 Cows belonging to Sunday Pam on 5th day of same August, 2018”.
The survivor pleaded for breaking of silence and non apprehension of the attackers by security agents who, at best, usually arrest and continually detain the victims like in a case of Mr. Bulus Gyang who has been under unlawful and continuous detention since 19th August, 2019 up to date without any arraignment up to now”, he lamented the state of decay in administration of justice which obviously appears to have been one-sided instead of equal treatment to all.
He however please on Government and other spirited persons to ste-up necessary actions, so that an end of hostility could be achieved purposefully. He also pleaded not only for relief materials intervention at this critical moment when farmland are being daily destroyed mischievously, but also a conditional or unconditional release of the detainee who lost his son and elder brother with Cows to the tragic development visited on his family and the entire community.
By Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria