Gunmen suspected to be herders have attacked some farmers in Bachi community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, injuring four persons in the process.
The President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri, confirmed the incident in Jos on Wednesday, adding that the victims were attacked in their farms.
According to him, the attack took place on Tuesday afternoon. He added that the injured victims were rushed to the hospital and are currently receiving treatment.
He explained, “At about 2:00 pm on August 6, 2024, a group of over 20 well-armed Fulani attacked some natives of Lwa in Bachi District, Riyom LGA, who were farming around the Seheng area of the village.”
One of the victims, Caleb Bachen, speaking from his hospital bed, said that he was at a different location from other farmers when he heard them crying out for rescue as gunshots rang out in the area.
Benson added that he never knew what was happening, but on trying to run back home, some of the attackers holding arms, machetes, and sticks came after him and hacked him mercilessly despite repeated pleas.
Another victim said that they got permission from the Fulani some months ago before they went to cultivate their farms after many years of denial of access.
He added that the Fulani started threatening them last week that they won’t be allowed to harvest their crops this year.
He further explained that while they were on their farms, he saw over 20 armed Fulani, who started shooting sporadically, chasing them away from the farmlands.
The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached when contacted on the incident as calls put to his mobile phone indicated that it was switched off.
