“Herdsmen attacked Jol village of Riyom Local Government Area last night and killed 13 persons and several others sustained gunshot injuries.”

Gyang Bere, Jos

No fewer than 13 persons were killed on Tuesday night when suspected herdsmen attacked Jol village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. Management committee chairman of Riyom LGA, Hon. Emmanuel Danboyi Jugul, confirmed the incident and said 10 of the victims killed during the attack have been given a mass burial, while three bodies were recovered from the bush.

He said: “Herdsmen attacked Jol village of Riyom Local Government Area last night and killed 13 persons and several others sustained gunshot injuries. Ten victims, including women and children, have been given mass burial while three other bodies have just been discovered in the bush.”

The state police public relations officer, DSP Mathias Terna Tyopev, told Daily Sun that he did not have details of the attack. He said he would contact the DPO in charge of the area to confirm what happened.

Meanwhile, several youths were arrested yesterday by soldiers from 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, while the search for the body of missing retired Major General Idris Alkali continues in Dura Du, Jos South Local Government Area.

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A community leader who gave his name as Pam Dalyop said several persons were arrested and taken to the military facility. He noted that troops stormed Dura Du community yesterday morning and arrested everybody in the community.

He said the military directed troops people to take charge of the community while the youths arrested were taken into a military truck, where they were stripped naked and taken to detention.

Deputy director, Army Public Relations, 3 Armoured Division, Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, confirmed the arrests. He said: “It is normal that when you conduct such an operation, some people will be apprehended. They were screened and sorted out based on the degree of their culpability at the venue. After sorting out, the suspects were later arrested and brought to the barracks for further interrogation.”

Military authorities had last week told the community not to panic but cooperate with them in the search for Alkali, as they were not considering carrying any deadly military action against the community.