Residents of a Fulani community in Luggere, Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State have accused soldiers of killing their cattle and burning down their houses and foodstuffs following the killing of one of their colleagues.
According to one of the leaders of the herder community, Abdullahi Umar, trouble started following the discovery of the body of a soldier at Maraban Kantoma, a community bordering Barkin Ladi and Mangu local government areas.
Umar, who spoke to newsmen in Jos on Monday, said the soldier was killed and his rifle stolen by unknown people at a checkpoint located in the area, which made his colleagues suspect that the perpetrators came from the Lugere community.
He went on to narrate how the soldiers allegedly invaded their community around 3am on Saturday, opened fire on animals, and burned down several of their houses while they were asleep.
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Umar also claimed that the invading soldiers demanded they vacate the community if those who killed the soldier were not produced, adding that despite the killings and destruction of their property, the soldiers insisted they must provide the perpetrators for an offence they knew nothing about.
He stressed that the Fulani community is far from where the body of the soldier was found, and wondered why the soldiers decided to attack them when there are other communities closer to the checkpoint than theirs.
“We are calling on the soldiers to investigate those who perpetrated the crime and bring them to book. We are also appealing to them to ensure justice. We have been facing different kinds of harassment,” Umar added.
