Fulani community accuses army of burning houses, killing cattle in Plateau

Residents of Luggere community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, yesterday accused operatives of Operation Safe Haven maintaining peace in the area of burning their houses, vehicles and other property.

The community also accused the security operatives of opening fire on their cattle, which allegedly resulted to death of many of them, adding that they destroyed all valuable items belonging to the community, including a borehole.

The residents said the incident occurred following the reported killing of a soldier at a mining site in Shurun community of Ropp District in Barkin Ladi Local Government, explaining that the incident occurred around midnight when they were already asleep.

Members of the community alleged that soldiers started shooting in the air before setting their houses and other belongings ablaze, adding that many of them fled the community, while others were arrested and bundled into  vehicles by the soldiers.

Bala Salihu, a resident of the area whose house was burnt said, “We were sleeping when the soldiers arrived at the community. They burned down our houses and vehicles for an offence we have not committed. 

“The mining site where the soldier was killed is far from our communities. There are even two communities close to the mining site before ours. There is no evidence provided that the killer of the soldier is from our community.

“We have never experienced this kind of atrocity before. Earlier this month, our cattle were killed, and now, our houses and property have been burnt down. When over 100 of our cattle were killed, security operatives pleaded with us to be patient. What do security agents want us to do? No investigation was carried out before their action.”

Uthman Abdullahi, another resident of the area said they lost millions of naira during the invasion, and called for investigation. 

The spokesperson of the Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, when contacted on the development, promised to investigate the matter and report back.