Renewed Attacks Claim 25 in Plateau State, Nigeria

Renewed attacks in Zango village and Wase town, both in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, had by the last count Monday night claimed at least 25 persons.

It was gathered that a group of armed youths alleged to be Tarok attempted to ambush Wase town Monday afternoon but were repelled by the community’s youths and vigilante groups.

Speaking on the incident, a youth leader from Wase, Shafi'i Sambo, said: “Shortly after we completed Zuhur prayers we heard gunshots being fired into our community and everybody started running, but we were able to chase the militants across Zango and burnt their camps around the area.”

Sambo explained further: “Five of our youths are dead and we brought back their corpses while I saw about 20 corpses that did not belong to us and must be the Tarok's.


He said about seven of his kinsmen were rushed to the Wase General Hospital for treatment.

Also, a member of a community development association from Yelwan Shendam, Abdullahi Danbaba, said he narrowly escaped the attack while on his way to Yelwa.

A Tarok traditional ruler, Ponzhi Kumbwang of Wase LGA, Jessey Pyenkwam, who spoke to newsmen on the phone said that he had been informed that much of the Zango settlement have been razed. He expressed bitterness over the crisis.

He said: “It is sad that this crisis has taken this turn. It is even more sad that it is being seen as a Tarok-Fulani confrontation because both communities need each other.”

Spokesman of the Special Task Force (STF), Salisu Mustapha confirmed last night that there had been attacks around Wase but did not know the casualties recorded.

Mustapha said: “There were disturbances on the outskirts of Wase but I have no report on the casualties,” adding that the disturbances have been brought under control.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/renewed-attacks-claim-25-in-plateau/144422/