Gunmen kill pastor, sons in Plateau

Gunmen on Saturday morning killed Reverend Musa Hyok and his two sons in Ganawuri community in Riyom LGA of Plateau State.

The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alfred Alabo, who confirmed the incident on Monday to newsmen, said the cleric was a priest of the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN), adding that the command had commenced an investigation to unravel those behind the attack.

Meanwhile, Mr Song Moro, the youth leader of the community, alleged that the incident was a reprisal following the killing of three Fulani youths in the community.

He said, “Trouble started when some suspected Fulani kidnappers were arrested last Wednesday, which was our market day, but later escaped in the hands of Fulani vigilantes who were to keep them before the arrival of security operatives.

Gunmen kill pastor, sons in Plateau

Gunmen kill pastor, sons in Plateau

“The situation degenerated into an argument and later escalated to a clash leading to the death of three Fulani youths despite several meetings and appeals for calm.

“We suspect that situation led to this attack on an innocent family that knows nothing about last Wednesday’s incident.”

When contacted, the Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), denied that the three members of the group earlier arrested were kidnappers.

He said, “Three members of our group were arrested by our own vigilantes. They had earlier committed an offence for which the leadership of the group asked the vigilantes to get them arrested, and eventually they were arrested. While on their way to the ardo’s (district head’s) house for questioning, they were stopped by youths in the area.

“The situation degenerated to arguments where the youths even insisted that they would kill the ardo, and in an attempt to protect the ardo, the three Fulani were killed. But as far as we are concerned, our group has no hand in the killing of the pastor and his sons.”