200 houses razed, 16 killed in Plateau attack

The orgy of  violence in Plateau State continued on Tuesday with the killing of 16 people   by   gunmen in the  Riyom Local Government Area.

At least 200 houses were burnt in the mayhem which occurred some hours before the African Union  Commission called on the Federal Government to stop the killings in parts of    the country, especially the North-East.

The Plateau  State mayhem also took  place as the military confirmed the death of a Lieutenant and some soldiers  in  a camp in Borno State last weekend.

It was gathered that apart from the burnt houses in Torok, Gwon, Gwarama, and Gwarim in the Riyom LGA, properties worth millions of naira  were destroyed  in Gida Biu, Langtang South LGA  by  gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Our correspondent learnt  that in the four communities in the Riyom LGA,  the gunmen, in   camouflage arrived in a commando style, killing anybody on their way.

The panic-stricken residents were said to have been  woken up by  gunshots which tore through the quiet Tuesday morning.

The Majority Leader of the Plateau State House  of Assembly, Daniel Dem, who is also the lawmaker  representing the Riyom LGA,  described the  incident as sad.

He said that 10 of the victims, mostly women and children,  were burnt to death  by their attackers  in Gwarim.

Dem wondered why men of the Special Task Force deployed in  the area could not stop the attackers.

He said,  “In nearly all the  attacked villages, there is  presence of men of the  STF; why did  they not go  after the attackers.”

The villages, our correspondent in the state  gathered, had been completely deserted as residents   fled to neighbouring communities. Some were  however said to have taken refuge in schools and churches.

The Public Relations Officer  of the state Police Command,  Felicia Anselm, confirmed the  attack but said   she had yet to be briefed on the number of casualties.

Meanwhile, the AU Commission  has urged the Goodluck Jonathan  administration to expedite action to stop the killing of innocent women and children by Boko Haram insurgents.

The commission, in a  statement  on Wednesday by its    Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini Zuma,     said it was worried by  the  “continuing acts of  barbarism and terrorism’’ perpetuated on innocent people by individuals and groups in Nigeria, Central African Republic,   South Sudan and Somalia.

“These senseless killings of innocent children, youths, women and other civilians, even while they are asleep in school dormitories, recovering in hospitals or in places of   worship and relaxation, must stop,” it said.

The AU  commission recalled the continent’s history of peaceful coexistence among the people for centuries in spite of its religious and ethnic diversities.

It urged leaders of the continent to make practical efforts towards peace and security in Africa.

“We must also recommit to building inclusive social and economic systems to ensure equitable distribution of resources. Our leaders must direct efforts towards development; democracy, people centred and accountable governments that would manage the diversity of our cultures, religions and peoples,’’  it added.

Meanwhile,  the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has confirmed that a Lieutenant and some soldiers were killed in  an operation  in the troubled Borno State.

He said, “That operation is the same one we issued a statement  earlier on . It is true that a Lieutenant and some soldiers died in the operation. We just did not want to release details of casualties in the statement that was issued.”

One of our correspondents gathered in Abuja that the  Special Forces of the Nigerian Army and the men of the Nigerian Air Force destroyed some of the major strongholds of the Boko Haram insurgents between Borno and Yobe Yobe states   during the operation last weekend.

 A source said  the military high command was impressed with the outcome of the operation that it resolved  that    automatic promotion be granted    all the  operatives   who took part in it.

Although the military did  not give the casualty figure on the part of the insurgents, it was  believed that several of them were killed.

 It was also learnt on Wednesday  that the military  was conducting a discrete investigation into the killing of 29 students of  the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in  Yobe State  by  insurgents  on February 25.

 A source  said that  the military had issued a directive that an Army Officer who was in charge of a military checkpoint  close to the school be taken to Abuja for interrogation.

 He added    that the  officer  was expected to make clarifications on the allegations that a military patrol team close to the school was withdrawn less than 24 hours before the attack.

 But the Defence spokesman denied  that  the incident was being  probed.

He said, “There is no probe going on. It is not right to use such strong terms like interrogation. What is normal is that when an operation or exercise takes place, there must be a review. It is mainly to shape subsequent operations. It is simply military routine.”