Despite a security intelligence on early warning signals as to a planned invasion as well as the movement of Fulani Militias and their cohorts mobilized from Mahanga, Guava and Fass to carry out their usual dastardly act of terrorism, 20 persons are confirmed to have been killed in Batin and Rayogot villages of Pwomol Community in Heipang District, Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State attacks unleashed at about 1:40am of 9th August, 2023 by the militias alongside members of banditry elements retained in the State according to a reliable Intel.




ECCVN’s on the spot assessment reveals that, “the attackers came in their hundreds while the unsuspecting victims were asleep… they over powered few local vigilante on guard…” said as local source under condition of anonymity. What beats down logic is that the attackers had their successful operation despite the security agents’ presence in Heipang and their rapid response to Batin when heavy gunfire ensured, resulting to the killings of 17 in Batin, and afterward proceeded to Rayogot, where 2 vigilante and a woman were shot dead.
Another respondent lamented about the situation, which ought to have either been averted owing to the credible early warning signals timely given to the relevant authorities, or the attackers vigorously gone after and hunted down.
Another pathetic side of the incident is that out of the 21 people murdered, 12 were Internally Displaced Person’s-IDPs, whom the Fulani had displaced from their ancestral homesteads, and fled to Heipang believed to be a safe haven, but tragically became their untimely dead zone.
Due to the unsatisfactory response of the security over the genocidal acts perpetrated, the National body of Berom Youths Moulder-Association-is calling for immediate removal and investigation of some Security agents for necessary disciplinary actions when found wanting.
By
Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCV