Tears Flows like a river As Plateau Community Gives 23 People Murdered by Herdsmen Mass Burial [Photos]

As many as twenty-three persons who were reportedly murdered by herdsmen have been given mass burial in Plateau state.

According to Sun News, tears flowed freely Thursday in Kwattas village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, when a mass burial was conducted for 23 people recently murdered by suspected herdsmen.

Women, children and the aged mourned as they watched their loved ones being laid into the mass grave at about 2 pm.

Dressed in black, sympathizers, made up of women, children, young people and the aged, had gathered at Luna Mortuary in Bokkos town at about 6:30 am to bid farewell to their loved ones.

Shops owners, Daily Sun learnt, had unanimously resolved to close down their businesses for the day, with some schools following suit in solidarity over the gruesome attacks which killed many of their townsfolk.

A community youth leader, John Akans, who was at the burial told daily Sun that 23 corpses were laid into the mass grave.

“The mass burial has been conducted and 23 corpses were buried; women, youths and children who put on black clothes all gathered; Bokkos community was in a mourning mood,” John said.

Those buried were 13 people attacked and killed on Sunday night in Kwattas. Two had died on Monday and 8 others were killed in different parts of Bokkos together with those who died as a result of fatal injuries at the state hospital.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command has transferred to Abuja Fulani and community leaders from Bokkos, Mangu, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom local government areas – the epicentre of the mass killing of innocent residents.

Police Commissioner Isaac Akinmoyede, who carried out the arrest action, was acting on the instruction of Governor Simon Lalong, who ordered him to arrest all Fulani Ardos and community leaders from the affected areas until those responsible for the killings are found.

Police Public Relations Officer ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba told Daily Sun in a telephone interview that the community leaders were taken to Abuja Thursday morning for further investigation.

“It is true that both Fulani Ardos and community leaders from both sides have been transferred to Abuja for further investigation,” he said.

The Plateau State Government, to address the lingering security crisis, has also approved a bill to prohibit the forceful grabbing of lands and landed property by armed persons in the state.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Chris Ahmadu, and his counterpart, Commissioner for Information and Communication Hon Dan Manjang,  disclosed this at a press briefing after the State Executive Council meeting presided by Governor Simon Lalong at Government House, Jos, the state capital.

Ahmadu said the forceful occupation bill, also known as anti-land grabbing bill, contains sections dealing with robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes.