Terrorists invaded Te’egbe hamlet in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday, killing 11 people, including children, and torching 30 homes.
Governor Simon Lalong quickly expressed his displeasure with the attack, calling it “another terrible occurrence” aimed at destabilizing the state.
The abductors of 66 members of the Baptist Church in Kakau Daji, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, eventually contacted the victims’ relatives after 27 days, demanding N99 million in ransom.
According to reports, the perpetrators stormed Te’egbe village early yesterday morning when the locals were still sleeping, killing 11 people and injuring several others, as well as setting fire to several homes.
Read Also: FAAN suspends airport officials for allegedly extorting money from passengers
While confirming the attack, Mr. Nuhu Bitrus, spokesman for the Miango Youth Development Association, stated, “Last night was really horrific for the Irigwe country as Fulani militia stormed Te’egbe village, killing so many people and injuring many more.” They also set fire to their homes.
“Right now, we’re counting the bodies of ten people who were shot and killed by the attackers.” They’re on their way to the morgue. More victims are still being sought by our people. We’ll let you know when the search and rescue mission is completed.”
“Just last week, we read on social media the threat chats sent by Fulani herders to the military stationed at Ancha, a neighboring community, asking them to allow free grazing in and around all communities in Irigwe land or face their wrath,” said Mr. Danjuma Auta, Secretary of Irigwe Development Association (IDA).
“Despite the military’s dismissal of the warning, the Fulani carried out their preparations on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, when they stormed Ancha village and killed two people.
“These same Fulani herders attacked the town of Ta’agbe yet again, and we have confirmed the deaths of 11 people so far, while the hunt continues.” We are concerned because we have met with the Fulani community on numerous occasions in various fora and committed to embrace peace, but with the ongoing attacks on our innocent citizens, we question if the peace deal entered is anything to hold to.
Read Also: 3 Oyo teachers have been suspended for sexual harassment
“Those charged with the constitutional responsibility of protecting us should come out publicly and warn Nigerians if they are overburdened and can no longer guarantee our safety.” Our people are losing faith in security agents because they were unable to stop, arrest, or neutralize the terrorists despite their presence.”
Lalong Weeps
Meanwhile, Lalong stated that the administration still finds the incident yesterday to be condemnable and unacceptable.
The governor described the attack as “another sad incident clearly the handiwork of criminals bent on instilling fear, pain, and sorrow among the people with a view to destabilizing the state and making fortune from their criminality, as well as rupturing the substantial peace attained” in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut.
“The Governor totally condemns the attack and believes there is no reason that can explain it,” the statement said in part. As a result, he orders security services to take swift and decisive action to apprehend the culprits and guarantee that they are held accountable for their crimes.
“The recurrent attacks in this general area remain condemnable and unacceptable to Government,” the Governor was reported as saying. As a result, no resources or efforts will be spared in tracking down individuals who take pleasure in harming and killing innocent citizens, as well as ruining their homes and livelihoods.
Read Also: NYSC DG bags award of excellence from alma mater
“I want security forces to use all available resources to apprehend individuals who committed the crime, no matter how long it takes.” Failure to comply with this mandate will not be tolerated by the government.”
While expressing condolences to the victims and families of those killed, Lalong told them that justice would be served because the government would stop at nothing to find those responsible for the heinous crimes that continue to disturb the livelihoods of the people of the local government.
Lalong also ordered the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency and the Plateau Peace Building Agency to visit the region immediately and examine the extent of the damage in order to carry out prompt intervention and provide assistance to those who are in need as a result of the barbarous attack.
He also urged individuals to provide pertinent information to security services so that they can figure out who the assailants are and what their goals are.
Killings in Plateau State Confirmed by Police
The attack in Te’egbe Community has been confirmed by the Plateau State Police Command.
Read Also: Outrage as Abia govt gives women who deliver in primary healthcare centres N500
“On 26/11/2021 at about 0130hrs, the Command got a complaint of an attack by yet to be identified gunmen at Te’egbe Village of Bassa LGA of the state,” the Police Command said in a statement published by its spokesman, Ubah Ogaba.
“Upon receiving the complaint, Plateau State Command Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, dispatched a tactical squad from the Command to the scene to prevent further attack.”
“The Commissioner of Police also led other Senior Officers from the Command to the scene for an on-the-spot inspection and to console the attack victims.”
“The CP has ordered a discreet investigation and told the community that he is ready to apprehend the culprits of this heinous crime.”
Meanwhile, indigenous residents of the assaulted village, the Irigwe ethnic nationality, have expressed dissatisfaction with security officers, accusing them of failing to protect the people despite knowing about the attack in advance.
Security operatives “must be made to immediately examine Fulani villages fingered to be harboring and training these terrorists,” according to the statement, which also asked with President Muhammadu Buhari to come to their rescue before it’s too late.
Terrorists demand N99 million in ransom for the release of 66 abducted members of the Baptist Church.
Read Also: Finally, the court declares the bandits terrorists, and the FG publishes the ruling in the Gazette
The kidnappers of 66 members of the Baptist Church in Kakau Daji, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have demanded a ransom of N99 million.
Rev. John Hayab, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, revealed this to journalists in Kaduna yesterday.
27 days after the kidnapping, the abductors will make contact with the victims’ relatives for the first time.
The attendees were kidnapped on October 31, 2021, during a Sunday service when terrorists stormed the church.
Terrorists are claimed to have brought five of the victims close to the community and shot three of them dead, while two others were injured and taken to the hospital with bullet wounds.
Hayab further said that one of the remaining four pupils from Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi, Kaduna, who were kidnapped on July 5, 2021, had been released, while the other three remained in the hands of the criminals.
Read Also: How military kills 49 insurgents and criminals across the country
He claimed that the terrorists were paid N5 million in exchange for the student’s release. On July 5, bandits broke into the school and kidnapped 121 kids. 117 of the students were eventually released, while others managed to flee.
According to sources, the bandits were given approximately N200 million in exchange for the students’ freedom, which was granted in four batches. Each batch was reported to have received a ransom payment.
