7 killed in Plateau hostilities

FOUR people were, Sunday night, killed at Razat village in the Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, throwing the area into fresh

FOUR people were, Sunday night, killed at Razat village in the Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, throwing the area into fresh anxiety after months of relative calm.

The four people were said to have been gunned down about 7.pm by assailants who waylaid them as they returned to the village on two motorcycles.

However, in a reprisal by the villagers three of the assailants were killed.

Spokesman of the Special Task Force maintaining security in the state, Captain Charles Ekeocha, confirmed the killings to newsmen.

One of the travellers, who survived the attack, is said to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Eye-witnesses said the assailants mounted a roadblock close to the village where they ambushed the victims, and inflicted cuts on them after gunning them down. The deceased were aged between 32 and 25 years.

Reports said two of the assailants were later arrested and are now helping security agencies in their investigations.

The latest killings sparked protests from villagers, yesterday as they trooped out to lament the renewed attacks on their people.

Chairman of Barkin-Ladi Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the incident, lamented the outbreak of fresh hostilities at a time efforts were on to promote peaceful co-existence in the area.

He said a meeting of stakeholders cutting across ethnic and religious groups was held weekend, where the need for peaceful co-existence was discussed, but regretted that those he called enemies of the state had refused to heed all appeals.

He described the fresh hostilities as worrisome adding, “I believe some people are bent on creating havoc and I warn them to stop.”

In another development, Governor Jonah Jang has promised to implement the report of the committee set up to recommend appropriate remuneration for the public service in the state no matter the cost.

He gave the assurance, yesterday while receiving the report of the committee headed by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba, saying, “this one will not be left to gather dust on the shelves; rather we shall vigorously carry out its implementation.”