Two herders lynched in Plateau

Two herders have been killed in Furfum village, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Chairman of Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in Barikin Ladi Local Government Area, Muhammad Adam, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday.

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He said the victims were lynched last Thursday when they went to the village to pay compensation for a farm said to have been destroyed by cattle.

He said he had reported the case to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Egbuka, who promised to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Adam narrated that, “On Thursday last week, three herders — Sulaiman Adamu, Idris Muhammad and Abdulkareem — all from Barkin Ladi, were called from Jos East that their cattle had destroyed farm crops and must pay compensation.

“Hearing that, they took a motorcycle to Jos East and on their way, the motorcycle got fault and they managed to get to a garage in Furfum.

“While waiting to get the motorcycle repaired at the garage, vigilantes and mob stormed the garage and started beating them and then tied them.  The police in the area tried all they could to rescue them but could not. The police were able to rescue Abdulkareem, who sustained injuries but the remaining two were killed and burnt.”

He further said even the cattle said to have destroyed the farm were reared and managed by the locals of the area who drew their attention.

Contacted, the spokesman for the state police command, ASP Ubah Gabriel said the herders were not killed by vigilantes but locals of the area.

He said, “On 22/07/2021, the command received a report that some suspected kidnappers went to the residence of a retired military officer at Sabon Garin Fobur in Jos East LGA and kidnapped him. Unfortunately, the retired officer and one other person were killed by the hoodlums as it appeared a scuffle ensued between them.

“On receipt of the report, police operatives, STF, local vigilantes and hunters were drafted to the area for possible arrest of the suspects.

“In the course of the search, the police were informed that some locals apprehended three suspects; they quickly rushed to the scene where they met the natives in their numbers.

“All efforts made by the police to rescue the three suspects were futile. The police were only able to rescue one of the three suspects as the police operatives were attacked and their vehicle was damaged.

“By the time further reinforcement arrived at the scene, the other two suspects were found to have been lynched by the locals. A discrete investigation is currently ongoing,” he added.