TRAGEDY struck in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on
Wednesday, when some gunmen killed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
chieftain in the area, Honourable John Baren, his wife and a son in a
gruesome manner.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the gunmen, suspected to be Fulani
herdsmen from neighbouring country of Chad on the invitation of the
local Fulani, attacked Gwarin village in Rim District of the council at
about 3.30 p.m. and went on a shooting spree before they killed Baren,
his wife and son.
It was learnt that the deceased and his family were returning from a
burial of a relation in Riyom town, when the suspected assailants on the
rampage in the village shot at them and dragged them into the nearby
bush.
A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, representing Riyom
Constituency in the state, Honourable Daniel Dem, who confirmed the
incident, called on the Special Task Force (STF) to step up efforts and
bring the culprits to book, adding that attack on innocent citizens in
the area was becoming a daily occurrence.
Dem said the late Baren, until his demise, was the PDP chairman in
Sharubutu Ward in Riyom Local Government Area of the state, adding that
the deceased was an easy going man and a party faithful.
He appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the
people of the local government, adding that incessant attacks on
innocent citizens of the area had crippled agriculture and paralysed
other economic activities. ‘This is farming season, people can no longer
go to farm for fear of attack and people are also fleeing the area on
[a] daily basis,” he said.
He condoled the bereaved family and the entire local government over
the losses and urged the residents to be security conscious.
In another development, gunmen, on Wednesday stormed the hostel of
students of Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko, a private polytechnic in Benue
State and shot at one student, one Solomon Akauwa, who died instantly.
According to a source, the gunmen were said to have invaded the
compound at about 10.00 a.m where they met the victim who, with his
mates, was cooking and suddenly shot their victim with a locally made
pistol, which led to his death.
Irked by the ugly development, the students were said to have
mobilised themselves and gave the assailants a chase, which led to the
arrest of two of them. The students, according to a source, were said to
have meted jungle justice to one of the suspects who also died
immediately.
Confirming the report, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer,
Alarebe Ejike, said that the police promptly stormed the area upon
information and rescued the other suspect from the students, adding that
during the preliminary investigation, three men had so far been
arrested.
He explained that normalcy had been restored in the area and assured
that the police authourities would ensure that all those involved in the
criminal activity were brought to book.
In a related development, the state police spokesman said that four
people suspected to be heading towards the troubled spots in Nasarawa
State had been arrested.
Ejike said that the suspects who were driving from Makurdi to Lafia,
the capital of Nasarawa State were intercepted and arrested when
dangerous weapons were discovered in their Peugeot wagon with Lagos
registration number BE 222 KRD.
The police spokesman said that a box of AK 47 live ammunition, cash
of N96,500, knives, charms and three handsets were recovered from the
suspects.
While calling on the public to always join hands with the security
operatives to reduce crime to its barest minimum in the state, the
deputy PPRO said that the command would always treat any information
that could lead to the arrest of criminals in the state with topmost
secrecy.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
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