Herdsmen invaded 15 villages, burnt churches, 405 houses – ECWA

THE Evangelical Church Winning All also known as ECWA on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the killings and destruction of houses, including its churches in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In a statement on Wednesday, ECWA President, Dr Stephen Panya, said it was sad to believe that such level of destruction perpetrated by herdsmen could be allowed in a community hosting the headquarters of the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigeria Army and urged the government to save the lives and property of the people.

The statement read in part, “For over 21 years, the Irigwe people of Miango, a predominant Christian community, have been under attacks from Fulani militia that resulted in loss of lives, properties and farmland. The last two weeks, especially from Sunday, July 23rd to Monday, August 2, 2021 have been the worst nightmare of the entire Irigwe land.

“The Fulani militia, with every of their might have invaded not less than 15 villages, burnt and destroyed not less than 405 houses and churches inclusive, displaced about 20,000 people and destroyed thousands of hectares of farm crops.

“The main town of Jebbu Miango and its surrounding villages such as Kpachudu, Kpetenvie, Nche-Tahu, Tafigana, DTV and Zahwra are completely burnt down and displaced.

“What is so sad and inexplicable is that many of the villages, where these killings and burnings are taking place, are basically located behind the 3rd Armoured Division Barrack of the Nigerian Army, yet, these militias are allowed to continue their heinous murders and carnage without any intervention by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.”

The statement called on the state and federal governments and security agencies to intervene and prevail on the Nigerian Army and all security agencies to stop attacks.

Fulani militia still burning our houses, says Plateau community

Meanwhile, the Miango community in the Bassa LGA of Plateau State on Wednesday raised an alarm to the authorities that Fulani militia was still burning their houses.

The fresh destruction of their houses and farmlands, the community said, was coming on the heels of the recent attacks on several villages in the area by suspected armed herdsmen,

Over 40 persons were allegedly killed and hundreds of houses set ablaze during the last attack.

The spokesman for the Miango Youths Development Association, Nuhu Bitrus, said that the Fulani militia stormed another village in Gene last night (Tuesday) and set several houses on fire.

Bitrus said many had been driven to the bushes while others were injured in their attempt to flee from the attackers.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Jos, the state capital, to forestall a spillover of the violence to the city centre.

When contacted, the Military Information Officer, Operation Safe Haven, Major Ishaku Takwa, said he was not aware of any joint security patrol involving men of the task force.

But the state Commissioner for Information, Dan Manjang said Governor Simon Lalong had given an order that security should occupy the state to ward off troublemakers who might be planning to disrupt the peace across the state.