By Daniel Dauda,Jos


The over 150 inhabitants of Magingi community in Dong quarters of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau state where eight persons were hacked to death last Sunday by suspected Fulani herdsmen has cried out to the state Governor Simon Lalong and security agents that their lives are no longer safe.

Mr. Charles Okoro who spoke on behalf of the Magingi community, that stormed the Plateau State Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, on Wednesday alongside the affected residence, told reporters that the community are now being forced to relocate from their abode to an unknown place due to the increase in banditry.

Reports have it that last Sunday 23/5/2021, in Dong village, suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the community at about 9pm and killed eight persons.

According to him, "Our community is under confrontation between herders and farmers. The start shooting sporadically and we started running halter skeletal for our dear lives. 

"So now we have to come out en-masse to call on Government to come to our rescue as our lives is no longer safe from the hands of Fulani herdsmen that have been consistently terrorism us without the presence of security agents.

" since the attacks started, we have been calling on the security agents to come to our rescue, but, the only time they came was with some Hilux  but within five came came they zoom off, leaving us to our faiths."

Okoro maintained, our fears now is that "there is no permanent security there that can protect the lives and properties of the people.

" Presently between yesterday and day before yesterday houses were bubble and properties were looted.

"So, as it is now we're been asked to live our community, to live our houses and not to come back immediately for the fear of being attacked either by the Fulani herdsmen or farmers. They asked us to live our homes and that is why we are calling on the government to please come to our aids. 

They however, appeal to the state Government to send security agents to come over and mediate between the farmers and Fulani herdsmen who has been at each others throat for long at  in the area.

"Now, we are the victim of the circumstances. We are neither be farmers nor herders. We are just traders and civil servants residing in that community. Most of us are Igbos and Yorubas, and most of us are from other states and if our lives is as stake which we cannot be protected and secure in this very state(Plateau state), we are pleading on Government to please give us security who can escort us to go and park our properties and go to our various states since our lives is not secure here.

"So from here now we are heading to STF Commander to brief him of the situation, and also the commissioner of police and permanent secretary on security to let them know the situation on ground because for four days now we cannot sleep in our houses. We have become a refugee in our community." Okoro added.