By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Following the breach of peace in Mangu local government area in the last one week with the beheading of one Longji Mikyes by suspected Fulani, youths in the community reportedly traced the blood dropping to a  house of one Alhaji  in the area.

Serial attacks in Maitumbi, Jwak-Maitumbi, Kyampus, Mai-Rana. Sarbot, Kantoma villages and  environs started on December 26, 2014 when one Yoila Micah of Jwak-Maitumbi was shot by suspected herdsmen.

Speaking on the situation at the  NUJ Press Centre, Jos, yesterday, the Chairman of Mangu local government area, Caleb Mutfwang, lamented that the attacks had  left  behind hundreds of  internally displaced persons as many houses had been burnt.

“Just at the point we were almost rejoicing for a peaceful celebration of the yuletide, the enemies struck in the night. As the community was recovering from that shock, another sad incident happened on Tuesday December 30, 2014,”Mutfwang said..

“This precipitated the violence witnessed in the villages. Credible witnesses confirmed that two young men riding on motor-cycle were ambushed and shot on their way while one escaped with bullet wounds, the other by name Longji Mikyes was murdered and beheaded.

“The attention of the Sector 8 of the Special Task Force and police was drawn to the development which  responded,  and pleaded for calm with a promise to commence investigation.

“At dawn of Wednesday, December 31, 2014, some unarmed youths, frustrated by the delay in the arrival of the security personnel as promised, decided to trace the blood droppings from the scene where the victim was beheaded which terminated at the house of one Alhaji, a Fulani man in the community.

“Upon request to search the house, someone came out with a gun and shot randomly at the youths. So far, no arrest has been made with regard to this particular incident.

“Angered by this, the youths went on rampage and burnt some Fulani houses. The Fulani mobilized at night and attacked the aforementioned communities with sporadic gunshots from all directions resulting in the death of four people and burning of several houses and displacement of  people.”

Efforts to restore sanity were  underway as the authorities  organized a  security meeting with major stakeholders including security chiefs, CAN, JNI, youths groups among others took place.