There is deep sense of anger and despondency in Jos, Plateau State capital, and Benue State, following the killing of 43 people in different attacks across the two states.
Thirty-five people were killed in different attacks in Yelwa Zangam in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Also, eight were killed in Yelawa, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Among those killed were a family of 16, burnt to death in Plateau and a mother and four kids, murdered in Benue.
The latest killings in Plateau raised to 58 the number of lives lost to attacks in the state in the last 11 days.
On August 15, 23 persons travelling to Ondo State on their way from a religious event in Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State met their untimely death when their vehicle ran into a group of irate youths on Gada -Biyu – Rukuba Road in Jos North.
The incident led to the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Jos North by Governor Simon Lalong. The governor, who later relaxed the curfew, re-imposed it after the Tuesday night killings.
In spite of the curfew, angry youths took to the streets of Jos in protest against the orgy of killings.
They picked up the bodies in Yelwa Zangam, loaded them in trucks and headed for the Government House and the House of Assembly complex.
It was gathered that the youth were prevented from entering the Government House premises in the Rayfield area of Jos by security agents. They dropped some of the bodies at the gate.
They claimed that among the 35 dead were 16 members of a family, who were burnt in their house by the gunmen.
An eye witness told reporters that the gunmen invaded the community at about 9pm , burning houses and shooting at anyone in sight.
He added that the attackers disabled a bridge linking Yelwa Zangam and Naraguta before launching the attack.
Police spokesman Gabriel Ubah, who confirmed the attack, did not give details.
He said: “We are aware of an incident in the area. I will brief you later.” As of 9.30 pm yesterday, he had yet to do so.
It was however gathered that 10 suspects were arrested by security operatives.
According to reports, the eight persons killed in Yelawa included a housewife and her four children.
Yelewa, a border community between Nassarwa and Benue states is located along the Makurdi- Lafia Highway.
Franc Utoo , Senior Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom on Projects Monitoring and an indigene of the community said: ”Last(Tuesday) night, herdsmen invaded Yelewa and killed a housewife and her four children.
“The woman was preparing supper for the little kids who were playing around. Four other people were also killed during the attack.”
Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) Brig – Gen. Clement Afere, confirmed the incident, saying: “ It’s true. “.
Lalong condemned the attack as a ”barbaric act” and directed security agencies to track down the assailants and their sponsors.
He said in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Makut Macham, that the attack was carefully planned.
The governor, who sympathised with the victims, called for calm, urging those in Jos North council must adhere to the 24-hour curfew.
He added that the dusk-to-dawn curfew in Jos South and Bassa LGAs will remain until further notice.
