The Special Military Task Force
(STF) on Jos crisis in Plateau State has ordered some villagers to vacate their
settlements within 48 hours. This is to enable it carry out a military
operation in order to smoke out those behind the incessant killings in the
state.
The affected villages, according to
a statement signed by STF spokesman and made available to National Mirrorr in
Jos yesterday [July 14], include Mahanga, Kakuruk, Kuzen, Maseh and Shong 2,
all in Barki Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state. The statement
also urged other neighbouring communities not to panic throughout the period
the operation will last.
It will be recalled that the crisis
in the state escalated last Sunday [July 8] with the killing of the chairman,
Senate Committee on Health, Senator
Gyang Dantong, and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of
Assembly, Hon Gyang Fulani, while a
member of the House of Representatives, Hon
Simon Madwakom escaped by a whisker.
A day before, gunmen numbering about
200 had invaded Barkin-Ladi and some parts of Riyom Local Government Area of
the state, killing over 100 people.
The three lawmakers, along with
other top government functionaries, were at Maseh village for the mass burial
of about 63 people in the area on the day of the incident.
It was gathered that while the mass
burial was going on, about 50 suspected Fulani herdsmen stormed the venue and
opened fire at random at the sympathisers at the burial site, in the ensuing
stampede, the lawmakers reportedly slumped, while many people also sustained
varying degrees of injuries.
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