​Com​munal clashes claim four lives in Plateau

Four people were killed, while one was injured in communal clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Mwagahvuu speaking people of Mangu Local Government Area in Plateau state, local authorities said.​

The clashes occurred between December 31 2014 and January 2, 2015.

The Council chairman, Mangu Local Government, Caleb Mutfwang, made this known to journalists in Jos, on Saturday during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ press centre.

He said “the Fulanis mobilized at night and attacked some of the aforementioned communities with sporadic gun shots from all directions resulting in the death of four people and the burning of residential houses and property.”

“Credible witnesses confirmed that two young men riding on a motor cycle were ambushed and shot on their way home by unknown persons, while one escaped with a bullet wound, the other, named Longji Mikyes was murdered and beheaded,” Mr. Mutfwang said.

Mr. Mutfwang said the late Mr. Mikyes was beheaded at the residence of a popular Fulani man, Alhaji Wada.

“The victim was beheaded at the house of one Alhaji Wada, a Fulani man who resides in the community. Upon request to search the house, someone came out with a gun and shot randomly at the youth.”

The Council chairman said two persons, suspected to masterminds of the attack, have been arrested.

Mr. Mutfwang said more than a hundred persons were displaced after their homes were burnt and are now taking refuge in designated places.

The Council boss charged community leaders to expose people of questionable characters in their communities.

“Leaders in all communities must adopt proper information management strategies to guard against unnecessary rumor mongering. People should be encouraged not hide or harbor criminals because of religious or ethnic affiliations and visitors in any community must identify with the community leadership,” he said.