“It was horrible”: Witness says as 10 enterpreneurs are murdered in Plateau

by Rachel Ogbu

The 10 travelers believed to be entrepreneurs killed in Yelwa Shendam, the southern zone of Plateau State on Thursday evening were victims of the state’s internal crisis, new reports claim.

The victims travelling in two Peugeot 504 cars included seven Muslim men and three Christian women. Reports believe they were ambushed by some youths suspected to be from Tarok, a village, about four kilometers after Walu in Langtang South Local Government area of Plateau State.

According to reports six out of the corpses recovered so far have been buried according to Islamic rites in Yelwa. They were identified as Sabo Yusif, Adamu Abdullahi, Lawal Maikifi, Sale Tori Papa, Habibu Adam and Bala Muhammad.

However, one of the drivers named a Abdullahi Haliru is missing and a search party was constituted on Friday, the identities of the three other victims are still yet to be ascertained.

An unspecified witness said he escaped by a hair’s breath and remembers the attackers were young people carrying AK 47 riffles, machetes and other weapons.

“The Tarok youths attacked and killed the travelers around 4.30pm on Thursday. The victims were traders and they were taking their wares to Dampar to sell at the weekly market.

“The youths were fully armed. Some were carrying AK47, machetes and other weapons. They ambushed the traders and shot them. Those who tried to flee were murdered with machetes. It was horrible. My escape was a miracle,” the witness said.

The Punch reports:

The travelers who were said to be on a business trip to Dampar in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Yelwa has been one the theatres of the internecine strife in Plateau State since May 2004 after the killing of over 600 people, resulting in the imposition of a state of emergency by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The incident followed the killing of 35 people on Thursday morning in Mavo village of Wase Local Government Area of the state.

There are feelings that the killing of the 35 people was connected with the killing of the 10 persons.

A detachment of policemen from the Divisional Police Office in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area were deployed in the area they recovered five of the corpses, which they deposited at the mortuary of the Langtang General Hospital in Langtang North Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, a delegation of traditional rulers from Langtang South Local Government Area who were accompanied by some policemen and local government officials on Friday visited Yelwa to commiserate with the victims’ families and also pacify residents of the town.

When contacted on Saturday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, said, “I have not been briefed on the incident.”