Aack on Irigwe communityRENEWED ATTACKS ON MIANGO VILLAGES IN BASSA LGA, PLATEAU STATEFollowing the series of attacks on communities in Plateau State, Stefanos Foundation teamembarked on a fact finding mission to ascertain the extent of destructions visited on localcommunities in Bassa LGA between 8thSeptember – 17 October 2017.In those attacks, more than twelve (12) villages were affected including Taagbe, NkiyieDonghwro, Rotsu, Haraku, Npachudu, Kpara, Nzhweruvo, Tafigana, Rikwe-Chongu, Hukke,Ancha and Farin Mota. The locals identified the assailants as Fulani Militants, although some ofthe invasions were carried out at night when the villagers are asleep, they still could recognizethe attackers by the Fulani and Hausa languages they spoke. These attacks resulted to the deathof over seventy-five (75) persons, twenty-three (23) persons were admitted for various degrees ofinjuries, while 489 homes were burnt leaving 13,726 persons displaced from the communities.Stefanos Foundation team was at Enos Hospital in Miango, Bassa LGA on 19thof October 2017,where they met and interviewed some of the victims of the attacks. The victims shared some oftheir experiences with the team:Bitrus M Giwa, Nkiyie Donghwro Village, Bassa LGA.Bitrus M Giwa (28 years old) and a father of one, spoke toStefanos team that…. “I was in Nkiyie Donghwro villagewhen the attack happened around 7:30 pm on the 16thofOctober 2017. The soldiers told us to take refuge in the LEAPrimary School at Nkiyie, but I refused and stayed back inthe village. In the evening, we heard gunshots and ran forsafety while the gun men shot at us. I was able to identifythat they are Fulanis because they spoke in Fulani language.The Fulani militants shot two (2) people among us while running. I was operated on typhoid ofthe intestine few weeks before the attack, so while we were running for safety the stitchesruptured and I had to be taken to the hospital.”Chris Aya, Rotsu Village, Bassa LGA.Chris Ayas story was narrated by his aunt, Mrs Asabe Bulus, Chris Aya is from Rostu village,Bassa LGA. On the 17thof October 2017, they were on their way to a hideout at night when theelder brother sent him to get a bag from the house. As he approached the house, he saw somearmed men and screamed for his family to run for their lives then the men went after him andSTEFANOS REPORT 31102017 1
Aack on Irigwe communityshot him and used a machete to hack his head. Thinking he was dead they left him there lyinghelplessly, he then crawled to a stream where he sought refuge behind some stones bleedingprofusely. The following morning his family members went out in search of his dead bodythinking he was dead, then he came out of hiding and spoke to them. They took him to thehospital where he is presently receiving treatment. All the houses in Rotsu were burnt down.Lisa Bono, Taagbe village, Bassa LGA.Lisa Bono, a victim of the attack in Taagbe, narrated herordeal to Stefanos team saying… when we heard rumorsabout the planned Fulani herdsmen attack on ourcommunity, we sought refuge in my in-law’s house.While we were asleep, we then heard gunshots aroundthe house. The Fulani militants had surrounded ourhouse shooting sporadically and a bullet got me on thechick through the window. No one was able to go out of the house, they set the house ablaze withus inside. I then heard one of the assailants saying they should go since they have set the houseablaze. After the place was quiet I came out of the room through the window. In that attack 5members of my family were killed. Those killed include: Yari Nga (father-inlaw), Friday Danladi(child), Mary Danladi (child), Asabe Stephen (child), Laraba Yari (mother in-law), and TegwiShwe (neighbor). Ms Lami Danladi sustained injury on the thigh as a result of gunshots.Friday Chinge, Nkyie dongwro Bassa LGA.Before the attackers came I was with the soldiers, then I saw a Fulani man that came out andstarted shooting, I told the soldiers that the Fulani militants have entered the community, thesoldiers refused to respond. Few minutes later, one of the Fulani Militants came out and shot inthe air and went back to the bushes, it was then I realized I wasn’t safe with the soldiers whowere posted there to protect the community. Then I saw one of the Fulani militant came out ofthe bushes and made hand gestures to the other armed Fulani men. I asked the soldiers what shallwe do? The soldiers told me to enter into a primary school classroom where some of the villagersare taking refuge at the advice of the soldiers, but I declined. One of the soldiers ordered me toenter the classroom and threatened to shoot me if I refused. Some people came out from aparticular house because of the gunshots and ran to the soldiers for help, who told them to jointhe others in the classroom. However, I advised the people not to go into the classroom, but theydid anyway. So I laid down in the grasses with the soldiers, as we were lying down on the groundI saw one of the soldiers pointing his hand, directing the Fulani militants towards the classroomwhere the villagers are. Then the Fulani militants started shooting towards where I was lyingdown, so I rolled and ran and hid close to a wall. I saw the Fulani militants forced the classroomdoor open. The soldiers withdrew from the scene, the militants then surrounded the classroom,some stayed close to a window, and some stayed close to the door and opened fire on the people,killing almost everyone in the classroom except for two who survived with serious gunshotinjuries. From where I was hiding, I could hear the screams of people in the classroom while theSTEFANOS REPORT 31102017 2
Aack on Irigwe communityoperation lasted. So I waited till the over 20 heavily armed Fulanimilitants who were speaking Fulfulde went away. This attackhappened on the 15thOctober, 2017. And none of the 12 soldierswho were there shot a gun to repel the attack.Adam Wuh, Nkyie dongwro, Bassa LGA.On 15thOctober, 2017 afterdinner we heard gunshots and saw Fulani people comingtowards us, then we started running. I tried to use a shortcutroute to escape. The soldiers blocked me and said I shouldenter the class where the other villagers sought refuge. Ithen entered the class and the military men collected ourphones, the Fulani militants came towards the class and thesoldiers surrendered I was peeping from the class where Iwas. While I saw the Fulani militants approaching the class, I forced the window open and felloff the window and became unconscious. About four (4) of us went out through the windowthree (3) were killed by the Fulani herdsmen and when they saw me unconscious, one of themsaid they should just leave me thinking I was dead. The armed Fulani militants were dressed inblack. They wore face masks which covered their faces except their eyes. I recognized they areFulani because they spoke in Hausa and Fulani language. After I regained consciousness, I waswalking into the town when I saw some soldiers. One of them said they should carry me becauseof the way I was struggling to walk as a result of the injury I sustained on my leg while comingout of the window, but the other said their bike is not for people like me. I then kept strugglingtill I got into the town.Dr Ogbioba Osaze, Enos Hospital, Miango, Bassa LGA.Dr Ogbioba Osaze, is the medical director of Enos Hospital. He shared his with Stefanos teamthe patients his hospital has handled from the attacks. On 8thSeptember, 2017, I was called thatthere were casualties in the hospital around 1am to 2 am. I then rushed to the hospital and sawcases of gunshots and machete injuries. So I called the police which is ethical of the professionand the police came to the hospital.About 11 of the victims were brought into the hospital, five (5) female and four (4) male, withthree (3) children. A victim died 20 minutes after arrival of cardiac arrest, a child who suffered alot of blood loss also died. We made referral to some patients because the hospital wasoverwhelmed, while we treated some to recovery and discharged afterwards. So far, governmenthas not paid the bills of the victims but some religious organizations have supported in reducingthe bulk. Right now the bills owed runs up to N500, 000. About 3 days ago while I was in theSTEFANOS REPORT 31102017 3
Aack on Irigwe communitydoctor’s quarters, I was called that there are some cases of gunshots which I informed the DPO(divisional police officer) about it and he came. Eleven (11) of the patients were brought to thehospital, four (4) discharged, one (1) referred, and one (1) to a traditional doctor for bone setting.Presently we have five (5) patients on admission and need assistance for drugs and other hospitalexpenses which would a go long in helping the victims. Out of the patients in the hospital, thelady whose hand was amputated, is five (5) months pregnant. Two (2) of the patients who werebadly injured were taken for x-ray and scanning and three (3) were at the ward in need of x-rayand scanning.SUMMARY OF THE STATISTICS OF THE ATTACKS BY SUSPECTED FULANIMILITANTS IN MIANGO DISTRICT, BASSA LGA OF PLATEAU STATE. FROM 8THSEPTEMBER – 17 OCTOBER 2017. (Courtesy: Irigwe Community)S/N Names of areas Date Type ofdisasterNo. ofDeathNo. ofInuredHospitalizeHospitalBillNHousesdestroyed1.Ncha 8-9-17 Genocideattack26 7 9 629,570 72. Nkiedowro 8-10-17 Genocideattack1 53.Hukke9-10-17 Attack 2 Nil Nil4. Kpachudu 10-10-17 Attack 5 4 4 175,970 495. Nche-Tahu 10-10-17 Burning ofHouses47 676. Ri-Meli 547. Ri- Chu 548. Nzwerivi 11-10-17 Attack 1 Nil 349. Nzhweruvo 11-10-17 Attack 5 4910. Tafigana 11-10-17 Attack Nil Nil 3411. Zanwra 11-10-17 1212 Rikwe-chongu 12-10-17 Burning ofHousesNil Nil 7513. Kpara 12-10-17 Attack Nil Nil 2514. Taagbe 14-10-17 Attack 6 2 2 91,000 1015. Nkiedowro 16-10-17 Attack 29 7 7 304,930 616. Rotsu 17-10-17 Attack Nil 1 1 44,000 6717. Haraku 18-10-17 Attack Nil Nil 124,5470 23TOTAL 75 23 23 489STEFANOS REPORT 31102017 4Man is by his constitution a religious animal; atheism is against not only our reason, but our instincts.—Edmund Burke (1729-1797)_Reflections on the Revolution in France_ [1790]
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