The Plateau state government has taken a drastic measure against recent attacks on its indigenes
The police command in the state on Thursday, January 30, arrested some Fulani and Miyetti Allah and community leaders following the attacks
The arrested persons were also taken to the police headquarters in Abuja for investigation Hours after some natives of Plateau were attacked by gangs of armed men, the police command has arrested a number of Fulani and community leaders from Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of the state.
The order for the arrest of the community leaders was given by Governor Simon Lalong to Isaac Akinmoyede, the commissioner for police in the state. Daily Trust reports that there was confusion and disagreement over the arrest as the community leaders initially resisted the arrest. However, when told that the order was given by the governor, they complied and penned down their statements at the police headquarters in the state.
The arrested persons were on Thursday, January 29, taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the police headquarters in Abuja. Confirming the arrest, the police spokesman in the state, ASP Ubah Gabriel, said: “For every Ardo that was moved to Abuja, an equivalent of the community leader from that area was equally picked and taken to Abuja.” It was earlier reported that Lalong had ordered the immediate arrest of all Fulani leaders and community heads in some local government areas of the state. This was as the death toll from the weekend attack on a Plateau village rose to 22. Lalong gave the directive to the commissioner of police Isaac Akinmoyede during an emergency meeting of stakeholders which involved traditional rulers, Fulani Ardors, community leaders and religious leaders on Tuesday, January 28.
The governor was angry and sad with the continuous attacks and killings by unknown gunmen in some villages in the state. Governor Lalong was particularly angry after being briefed that nobody has been arrested in connection with the attack while the death toll had risen to 22. He, therefore, ordered the police to arrest the Fulani leaders and the community heads in the affected village until those who perpetrated the attacks are produced.
Source: Daily Trust
