SAN FRANCISCO, October 17, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he received with deep sadness and regret, news of the recent killings of at least 20 people in Plateau State, during what has been described as a reprisal attack by some herdsmen.
It was reported that twenty-six people were killed on Monday in a renewed attack by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Nkiedonwhro village of Irigwe Chiefdom, in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Invading the village at about 2:30am, the suspected Fulani herdsmen killed and injured several villagers who were still at sleep, before escaping into the bush.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Tyopev Marthias Terna said, “I heard that there was an attack in Nkiedonwhro village in Bassa Local Government Area in the early hours of Monday”.
Reacting in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in Abuja on Monday, the President said he believed that “this madness has gone too far”.
According to the statement, he has therefore instructed the military and the police to bring the violence to an instant end.
He also tasked authorities of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force to draw up a plan to ensure that there are no further attacks and reprisal attacks by one group against the other.
Buhari said he was “devoted to the sanctity of Nigeria’s unity, and he encourages Nigerians of all groups to learn to live together in peace and harmony”.
He commiserated with the governor and people of Plateau State, and with those who lost their loved ones, friends and family.
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