Tragedy as Plateau PDP senator, others killed in attack
- Details
- Category: Latest
- Published on Sunday, 08 July 2012 17:37
- Written by Elombah.com
Senator Gyang Dalyop Datong (Plateau North, PDP) has been shot dead by gunmen while attending a burial ceremony today. A statement from the Plateau state commissioner of Information, Abraham Yiljap confirmed the shooting. the majority leader of the Plateau State of Assembly, Hon. Gyang Danfulani was also killed, while
member of the house of representatives was also injured in the attack.
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"The senator representing Plateau north, Gyang Dantong, and the majority leader of the state assembly, Gyang Fulani, were gunned down today by Fulani herdsmen," said Pam Ayuba, spokesman for the state's governor.
He added that the two were killed shortly after attending the mass burial for the victims of a Saturday raid, also blamed on the Fulani, a tribe made up of Muslim herdsmen.
After the burial, the officials went to a reception at the home of another local leader in the state's Gashis district, roughly 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the capital Jos, Ayuba said.
"The Fulani herdsmen raided the house...they shot (the politicians) and some others but the key people who lost their lives are the senator and the majority leader," he explained, saying he did not know the total number of casualties.
Another federal lawmaker "escaped death by a whisker," he added.
Asked about the motivation for the attacks, Ayuba said the Fulani were likely inspired by their resentment for the state's Christian political leadership.
The two victims of the Sunday attack were members of the mostly Christian Birom ethnic group, as were the 23 people killed in the Saturday raid.
Plateau state falls in Nigeria's so-called "Middle Belt" region, dividing the country's mainly Muslim north from its mostly Christian south.
The area has in recent years been hit by waves of sectarian violence.
(UPDATE: Crisis breaks out and a 6pm to 7am Curfew has been imposed on Jos South, Jos North, Riyom, and B'ladi LG Areas - Read more here)
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