Suspected Fulani herders attacked some farmers in Kwi community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, in the early hours of Sunday morning and shot one person dead.

According to a youth leader in the Kwi community, Solomon Dalyop, who spoke to The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday, the herders killed the farmer identified as Nuhu Nyango because they tried to resist herders from grazing on their crops in the area.

The youth leader said ,” What happened was that some farmers in Kwi community on Sunday morning noticed some cows in their farms grazing on their crops and they went there to stop the destruction of their crops and chase the cows away. But unknown to them, some herders were hiding in the bush with their guns. When the young farmers were about to drive the cows away, the herders opened fire and shot one of them dead. The name of the deceased is Nuhu Nyango. We are just gathered to bury him at the moment.”

The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was not readily available to speak on the incident when contacted by our correspondent, as his phones were switched off.

Nyango’s killing on Sunday is the latest in the series of attacks and killings that have left more than one hundred persons dead in various communities in the past weeks l.

In a statement that they issued on Sunday, Christian leaders in the state under the auspices of Plateau State Church Denominational Leaders and Spiritual fathers condemned the development and urged the government to take proactive measures to address the ugly situation.

The statement signed on behalf of the group by the president of The Evangelical Church Winning All, Rev Dr Stephen Baba Panya said

“We are very deeply saddened by the resurgence of mindless killings of innocent citizens, mainly Christians, in Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

“The killings which started in Mangu villages, Plateau state, Nigeria on Monday, 15th May 2023 by so-called unknown gunmen has claimed many lives and properties with many persons still missing. The villages affected include Fungzai, Hale, Kubwat, Bwoi and many other communities of Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area and some communities in Riyom Local Government Area. According to reports, about 130 people were killed, about 1000 houses and about 22 churches burnt, and about 22 villages affected.

“We the Church Denominational Leaders and Spiritual fathers on the Plateau, view this round of killings and destruction as devilish, barbaric and an act of genocide against innocent and armless villagers. This again is another sad commentary on the unabated bloodletting that has engulfed Plateau State over the years without any meaningful attempt by Government at federal and state levels to decisively address the unfortunate situation. For how long will this bloodletting continue?The persistent attacks and killings in Plateau state continue to raise a number of questions. Who really wants to destroy Plateau State and why? Are the killers really ‘unknown’ gunmen and why do they always have sophisticated weapons and enough time to wreak havoc on innocent citizens? What has happened to those arrested in previous attacks? Are the security agencies in Plateau really handicapped?If we must move forward as a peaceful, united and democratic nation, then these and many other questions must be answered through deliberate action by government to bring these killings to the end and restore peace and tranquility in Plateau State and other troubled parts of the country.

They called on the government and all security agencies to immediately stop this ongoing massacre and its spread to more communities.

They also encouraged the Christians asking them not to relent in praying to God for his divine intervention, inner strength and perseverance for the people of Plateau State.

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