Muslim Terrorists rush into Plateau State to Take Over Mining
By Douglas Burton and Masara Kim
(Bokkos) Following the seven-day killing spree that took more than 295 lives in Plateau State, Nigerian army soldiers are standing as watchmen for Fulani terrorists who have moved into some of the conquered villages, TruthNigeria has learned. The terrorist invaders will prevent the return of the 10,000 displaced residents, the majority of whom are Christians, according to victims and humanitarian aid givers.
Fulani men have stepped into abandoned mining camps in Barkin Ladi County and are actively mining tin, according to Rev. Mark Lipdo, the founder of Stefanos Foundation. The tin pits are among the storied wealth underneath the surface of battered Plateau State. They are scattered in several counties, including Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Mangu and Bokkos.
Artisanal Mining Field Taken Over
Victims include the family of Mr. Fuki Daniel, a photojournalist who grew up in Bokkos. Daniel reported that soldiers broke into his house and arrested six of his family members including those displaced by the attacks.
“More than 300 of our people were killed, houses destroyed, farmlands destroyed, properties worth billions of naira destroyed without any intervention by the soldiers,” said Daniel to TruthNigeria. “Soldiers arrived the attacked villages only after our people had been killed, and now they have turned around to victimize us,” he said.
As of the time of the arrests, several villages were still under the control of Fulani militants while soldiers and policemen were active patrolling the county seat, which faces fewer threats,” said a tribal youth leader, Mabas Ayuba.
“As I speak to you there are villages that are still under the siege of the Fulani,” said Ayuba. “No one goes there and comes out except the Fulani,” he said.
“Occupied villages include Bodel, Ngyong, Ndun, Mutfet, and Yelwa Nono. The Fulani are there terrorizing anyone visiting. The soldiers have refused to go after them but are here arresting our people [the civilian guards]. Ayuba said to a group of citizens. “We are tired of this injustice, and we are saying enough is enough,” he said to the cheering of the concurring crowd.
TruthNigeria visited occupied villages to verify the claims
Accompanied by community leaders, volunteer civilian watchers, and six hired soldiers for protection, TruthNigeria embarked on a challenging journey along a rough dirt road for over four hours, traversing four villages—Mutfet, Ndun, Mbong, and Yelwa Nono, all west of Bokkos town. Only the remnants of burned houses, churches, cars, and food barns were seen.
In Mbong, TruthNigeria filmed a chilling murder scene where six family members were brutally burned alive in a room. Only the stains from their body fats and a few charred bone fragments were left on the ground. Throughout the large farm area, no Christian residents were sighted. However, cattle herds, apparently owned by Fulani herders, were observed grazing in the distant bushes surrounding the village.
Police and army authorities in Jos have yet to respond to queries from TruthNigeria.
However, during a casual chat with community leaders, Lt. Col. Isaac Indiorhwer, the Commander for the special task force Sector 5 in Bokkos, assured them that he was actively addressing the concerns raised by the protesters. The response followed an appeal by Prof. Stephen Mallo, the leader of a local tribal elders forum.
“If you could please listen to the concerns of the women and release the detainees if any and help to talk to your colleague in charge of the Police, we will appreciate,” said Prof. Mallo who also made a case for the deployment of soldiers to the attacked villages to enable the displaced residents to return to their homes.
“Despite my appeal for the deployment of policemen to the attacked communities during the IGP’s visit few days ago, of all the villages we’ve visited today, there is no security presence,” said Mallo at the premises of the Sector 5 STF headquarters in Bokkos.
Rev. Dr. Gideon Paramalam, who was in the team, agrees. “What happened today is a reflection of anger. And it’s because many young people have been arrested after close to 200 people were killed. It is important to note that not only the Christian natives have been arrested. Fulani youths have also been arrested. We commend the military for doing their job, but we want to appeal to them to do their job in a way that does not create more social disharmony,” said Paramalam who delivered food and household supplies to church leaders for the displaced villagers.
As a flood of criticism has washed against the government of Bola Tinubu from human rights watchers in the West, the federal government has called upon all broadcast media to stop covering the ongoing story of bloody pogroms in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has directed broadcast stations in Nigeria to stop reporting the details of attacks by fulani herdsmen, bandits and insurgents According to a letter from NBC director of broadcast monitoring Francisca Aiyetan to broadcast station managers: “The commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges.
“Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardize the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.” The NBC called upon broadcast stations to be guided by provisions of sections 5.4.1(f) and 5.4.3 of the NBC Code which states that “the broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the divisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.
Douglas Burton is an award-winning reporter on terrorism in Nigeria and managing editor of TruthNigeria.com. Masara Kim is an award-winning conflict reporter in Jos and senior editor of TruthNigeria.com.
Good report.