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Three persons were shot dead on Friday night in Zanwra area of Jebbu Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, by the herdsmen, throwing the whole community into fresh apprehension.
The attackers were said to have struck around 8pm, few hours after the visit of the new Commander of Special Military Taskforce code-named Operation Safe Haven, Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu, to the area.
The OPSH Commander was said to have allegedly accused the Bassa people of stealing cows meant for the Fulani, a development he reportedly said, was partly responsible for the crisis.
The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the killings on Saturday, saying investigations had commenced.
He said, “Unknown armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked Zanwra area of Jebbu Miango, Bassa LGA. Three persons were shot dead in the attack.
“They are; Emmanuel Gado ‘m’ aged 22, Ladi Monday ‘f’ age 30 and Mary Monday ‘f’ aged 5 years. Police detectives led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Bassa Police Division mobilised to the scene of the crime. One expended shell of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered.
The spokesperson for the Miango Youths Development Association, Lawrence Zongo, who spoke with PUNCH on Saturday said that, the government did not appear to be interested in the protection of lives and property.
He said, “People in Jiri village are all in Miango town; they were displaced when their houses were razed on June 20, as they went to the farm. We are yet to have a government that is willing to protect the lives and property of our people. We continue to bury our people daily as Fulani terrorists vow to continue killing us without an end.
“This attack occurred after the new STF commander, Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu, visited our community. We knew nothing about it because we agreed that no Fulani should graze their cattle any more on our lands.”