Suspected gunmen kill 2 soldiers as 150 houses burnt in Plateau
Wed Feb 19, 2020 08:49:am National
1.6K By Afam Jude Offor
According to reports, Two soldiers with Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) were on the night of Sunday, February 16, killed by gunmen around Gindin Akwati village of Barikin Ladi local government area of Plateau state. It was gathered that following the killing of the soldiers, about 150 houses were on Tuesday, February 18, said to have been set ablaze in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states.
According to the chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in Barikin Ladi LGA, Shuaibu Bayero, alleged that operatives of OPSH in four Toyota Hilux and 11 motorcycles arrived Dogo, Yelwa, Hayi and Junction Gindin Akwati villages of Barikin Ladi LGA and set their houses ablaze. He said: “About 6 am on Tuesday (yesterday), OPSH operatives in four Hilux and some on motorcycles arrived our villages, set them ablazed one after the other.” He added that the action was surprising because the group and community leaders around Gindin Akwati were invited on Monday, February 17, by the commander of Gashis district, one Major Gado, over the killing of the two soldiers wherein the leaders were told that the perpetrators must be fished out by members of the community. “He asked us to cooperate with them and bring out all suspected criminal elements. And we all agreed to work with them to ensure peace but to our surprise, we started seeing our houses being burnt by men of the operation,” Bayero added. The newspaper said that when contacted on the two developments, Major Ibrahim Shittu, OPSH media, and information officer said he was not aware of the incident but promised to get back to 'our reporter' when information became available. However, sources among the personnel of OPSH in Gindin Akwati confirmed that two of their colleagues were indeed shot dead on Sunday, February 16, by gunmen but kept mum over the alleged burning of hamlets. On the burning of houses, the police spokesman said he could not confirm that as at the time of filing this report.
According to the chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in Barikin Ladi LGA, Shuaibu Bayero, alleged that operatives of OPSH in four Toyota Hilux and 11 motorcycles arrived Dogo, Yelwa, Hayi and Junction Gindin Akwati villages of Barikin Ladi LGA and set their houses ablaze. He said: “About 6 am on Tuesday (yesterday), OPSH operatives in four Hilux and some on motorcycles arrived our villages, set them ablazed one after the other.” He added that the action was surprising because the group and community leaders around Gindin Akwati were invited on Monday, February 17, by the commander of Gashis district, one Major Gado, over the killing of the two soldiers wherein the leaders were told that the perpetrators must be fished out by members of the community. “He asked us to cooperate with them and bring out all suspected criminal elements. And we all agreed to work with them to ensure peace but to our surprise, we started seeing our houses being burnt by men of the operation,” Bayero added. The newspaper said that when contacted on the two developments, Major Ibrahim Shittu, OPSH media, and information officer said he was not aware of the incident but promised to get back to 'our reporter' when information became available. However, sources among the personnel of OPSH in Gindin Akwati confirmed that two of their colleagues were indeed shot dead on Sunday, February 16, by gunmen but kept mum over the alleged burning of hamlets. On the burning of houses, the police spokesman said he could not confirm that as at the time of filing this report.
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