A growing number of residents of Mararaban Tipper near Nzhwerenvi village and Kpara around Kpatenvie (Jebbu Miango) community in Plateau state are deserting their homes for fear of further attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The development follows the killing of five people and the destruction of farmland in the community on Monday evening by the assailants.

The attackers reportedly stormed the community in large numbers as locals slept and moved from house to house chopping them to death.

Those lucky enough to survive the attack are said to be currently dealing with varying degrees of injuries inflicted by the gunmen.

The national chairman of the Irigwe Development Association, Prince Robert Ashi, last week alleged the invasion of the community’s farmland by Fulani herders and the destruction of farms and crops worth 500 million naira .

Sensing that the situation could lead to a more serious crisis, the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Bathlomen Onyeka, held a meeting with the Irigwe and Fulani leaders on Monday in which he coerced them into agreeing to a peace treaty. peace.

But hours after that meeting, the gunmen struck in the Plateau community, hacking people to death and leaving several others currently fighting for their lives.

Giving insight into why the attack took place, the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state, Mallam Nura Mohammad, said 33 cows died recently in the area as a result of poisoning by farmers.

According to him, the Fulani have endured this and other acts of provocation from farmers in the region for a long time.

Condemning the attack and killing of his people, the Supreme Ruler of the Rigwe Nation, Brra Nggwe Rigwe, and Acting Chairman of the Bassa Traditional Council, HRH Reverend Ronku Aka (Rtd), called on the Nigerian government to severely sanction Fulani herders responsible for heinous crimes in the state.

He said, “The Fulani herdsmen have consistently shown an attitude that is not peaceful in nature, even when the people of Rigwe have shown peaceful and legal engagement.

“The Fulani people must let peace reign and ensure that the various committees working for the restoration of peace finish their work so that the peace which is not rushed can be definitively restored.”

Speaking further, the traditional ruler described the attack as a continuous strategy and plan of the enemies to wipe out the entire Rigwe ethnic nationality.

He said they had worked tirelessly to ensure that the terror that was unleashed on the land was stopped.

The monarch urged the Rigwe people to keep the peace despite the continued attack on them by the Fulani.

State police spokesman ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him about the matter by SaharaReporters.