Miyetti Allah says killing of over 100 people in Plateau ‘retaliatory’

The mass killing of more than a hundred people who were attending a funeral event in Plateau state was an act of revenge following an earlier attack, the cattle rearers’ group, Miyetti Allah, has said.

Speaking through Mr. Ciroma, the Chairman, North Central chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said in a statement that the attacks were “retaliatory”.

“These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing of human being, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission,” he said.

“Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks – 94 cows were rustled by armed Berom youths in Fan village, another 36 cows were killed by Berom youths. In addition to that, 174 cattle were rustled.”

Residents said Monday over 120 people were massacred in separate attacks at different locations.

But police put the figure at 86 people who were said to have been killed in several villages while six persons were injured in the attack that lasted between 1p.m. and 8p.m

The police said the attacks occurred in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

In a statement on Sunday evening, the police also confirmed that six persons were injured, with 50 houses razed.

“Eighty six (86) persons all together were killed, six people injured, fifty (50) houses burnt, fifteen (15) motorcycles burnt down; two (2) motor vehicles burnt down,” the police said in a statement by its spokesperson in Plateau, Terna Tyopev.

Mr. Tyopev also said bodies were discovered by a search party set up by the Plateau State commissioner of police, Undie Adie.

The state government has consequently imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in parts of the state, amid growing tensions between locals and migrant herdsmen community. Residents blame the attacks on Fulani herdsmen, a group represented by the Miyetti Allah.