Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked farmers in Plateau State, injuring four individuals.
According to The PUNCH, the incident occurred on August 6, 2024, when the victims were working on their farms in the Bachi community, Riyom Local Government Area.
President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri, confirmed the attack to The PUNCH in Jos.
He reported that the assault, which happened around 2 p.m., involved a group of over 20 armed Fulani militants targeting the natives of Lwa in Bachi District, specifically in the Seheng area.
One of the injured, Caleb Bachen, spoke from his hospital bed, recounting his experience, “I was at a different location from other farmers whom I heard them crying aloud for rescue from the gunfire that was all over the area. I never knew what was happening. On trying to run back home, some of the attackers holding arms, machetes, and sticks came after me and hacked me mercilessly despite repeated pleas. I screamed for help, and one man by the name Saddau, came and rescued me from the hands of the attackers whom I cannot figure out their number, but were more than 15. Other victims may know the actual figure.”
Another victim described the events leading up to the attack, “We took permission from the Fulani some months ago before we went to cultivate our farms after many years of denial of access thereto. The Fulani started threatening us last week that we won’t be allowed to harvest our crops this year. So, while we were on our farms, I saw over 20 armed Fulani, who started shooting sporadically, chasing us away from the farmlands. Those carrying sticks beat and injured four of us, some of whom have been rushed for medical attention.”
Attempts to reach the Spokesman for the Plateau State Command, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off.