Political Assassinations On The Spree In Plateau State, As STF Confirms 5 Dead By Yakubu Busari,Jos
Plateau politics is beginning to take new dimension as thuggery, kidnapping and killing of opponents are on the spree. As the build up to match 28th general elections in Plateau state draws nearer, the activities of hired assassinate is now on the increase.
There has been a cold political rivalry between the party leadership in the state that had led to loss of lives in the past three days in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government council.
The crisis rocking the state was as a result of the last gubernatorial primary poll of People Democratic Party which the incumbent Governor Jonah David Jang moved against the wish of the people of the state.
The recent text messages of threat send to party supporters by desperate opponents has continued to generate fears whether the elections will be peaceful in Plateau state.
One of the opposition Party senatorial candidate for Northern senatorial district , Mrs Eunice Yisa Sambo, our correspondent reliably gathered that they have attempted killing her on two occasions; the candidate’s security man who was on duty was attack by the suspected assassin.
Meanwhile, the people of Plateau state have condemned the trend of kidnapping, brutality and killings going in the state which is considered a new development in the state.
Barr Festus Fuanter, Director, Media/Publicity Committee, Lalong/Tyoden Campaign Organisation said, APC saw it as an indication that there is general problem of insecurity in Plateau state and its environment. We don’t want to link the killing to the opposition or anyone else but the activities of terrorist.
Fuanter called on the Plateau State Police Command to ensure that they carry out thorough investigation to unravel the culprits. He promised that they are still waiting for further confirmation before responding accordingly. He sympathized with the APC, PDP family over the lost of their key leaders and sued their families to take consolation in God. Fuanter urged the APC supporters not to go for revenge but allow the security to do their work. We don’t want this hostility to continue in the state.
Another APC chieftain, Hon. Jock Alamba also expressed shock over the trend of killings by unknown gunmen where the state for the past few months has enjoyed fragile peace.
The death of Samuel Dorok in Kura has further thrown the entire state into confusion. As I am talking to you now the wife of deceased is still laying critically in the hospital. Alamba appealed to security personnel to restore peace to the communities of Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs.
He called for dialogue between the Fulani and Berom to help check further breakdown of law and order. Jock Alamba blamed the recent attack on the miscreants and greedy politicians who are desperate to grab power at all cost.
The Special Task Force (STF), in Plateau State had confirmed the killings of three persons in Kassa and Marik villages of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state. The STF said two incidences occurred Tuesday evening in the two localities where five persons were killed by unknown gunmen. Media and Information officer of the STF Captain Ikedichi Iweha, told our correspondent yesterday night, that a man and his wife were shot dead while seating in their rooms, at Kassa village.
According to him some unknown gunmen fired at People sporadically, in Marik village, and “injured five persons.”
He said one person died out of the five, while the STF had taken the rest to hospitals who are now receiving treatment.
Also confirming the incident to newsmen the executive Chairman of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, Dr Emmanuel Loman, said a “man and his wife were killed in their home in Kassa while two youths were gunned down in Marik village.”
The council chairman said the attackers had not been identified. “All I can say is that there had been issues between herdsmen and members of the communities in Marik,” he said.
