ZCZC
BFF-32
NIGERIA-CRIME-POLICE
Gunmen kill five villagers in central Nigeria: police
LAGOS, Dec 28, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Gunmen have killed five villagers in
central Nigeria’s Plateau state, police said on Friday, but it was not
immediately clear if the killings were linked to a long-running battle over
grazing rights.
The incident happened late Wednesday in Rawuru village in the Barkin Ladi
district of the state, an area beset with clashes between local farmers and
nomadic Fulani herdsmen.
The victims were returning from a birthday party in the neighbouring Pugu
village when they were attacked, state police spokesman Tyopeeve Terna said
in a statement.
“On the 26/12/2018 at about 21:15 hours, some unknown gunmen attacked some
people when they were returning from a birthday party from Pugu village. As a
result of the attack, five people were killed and two were injured,” Terna
said.
He said police would hunt down the killers and bring them to justice.
Plateau is among the states in central Nigeria that have seen repeated
clashes between farmers and herders in recent years, leaving thousands of
people dead.
The violence which often takes on ethnic and religious differences, is
mostly blamed on control of land and grazing rights.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in 2015 and is
seeking a second term in February elections, is under pressure to end the
conflict.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1433 hrs