Monday, the 12th of March 2018 was the date of another attack in the beleaguered state of Benue where a planned mass burial of victims killed by Fulani herdsmen in several communities was disrupted and many lives were lost.
25 people were left dead. The mass burial was planned to occur between Thursday, March 8, 2018 when President Muhammadu Buhari paid an official visit to the beleaguered state, and Sunday, March 11.
In the latest attack which took place by 7:00pm on Monday, 11 houses were also razed down.
The culprits are suspected to be Fulani herdsmen among the dead were three children and two women, in Dundu Village of Kwall District in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
Lawrence Zongo, the spokesperson of Miango Youth Development Association, confirmed the casualty rate in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Tuesday.
“Very sad! Again, Fulani terrorists killed 25 persons in Dundu Village of Kwall District in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
“Eleven houses were razed down. The villagers were attacked around 7pm yesterday (Monday). Among the victims were three children and two women.
“Others, including two women, are now receiving treatment in a nearby hospital in the community. This is too bad, as we are planning the mass burial of the last attack.
“So far, we have more than 500 Internally Displaced Persons camp. International organisations should please come to our aid.”
Matthias Tyopev, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, and the spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, also verified the attack, stating details were scarce.
“There was an attack yesterday (Monday) in Bassa; as such, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, has directed the DCP Taiwo Jebiyisu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Department of Operations, to go to the scene of crime for an on-the-spot assessment.
“As such, he is there now. The information is sketchy. I shall inform you when the details of the attack are made available, please.”