9 killed, houses, barns and farmlands razed in Plateau communal clash

At least nine persons have been reportedly killed, houses, farmlands and barns razed during a communal clash between the Montol and Taroh ethnic groups in the Ponglong community, Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State. 

 It was gathered that several other persons were severely injured in the clash which started on Saturday night and lasted till Sunday morning, March 24, 2024. 

 Sources in the area said that the clash was caused by a dispute over farmland between members of the two aggrieved ethnic groups. 

 The sources added that though security operatives had been deployed to the affected community to restore normalcy, criminals used the opportunity to rustle cattle. 

 The transition chairman of the council, Hon. Daniel Kungmi, who confirmed the incident, said the clash, which started between two persons, later escalated and was hijacked by irate youths and criminals.

“Within a short while, the situation degenerated leading to the burning down of houses and barns. Several criminal elements took advantage of the unfortunate situation and rustled cattle,” Kungmi said.

 “Immediately we got the news of the clash, we called on security operatives who moved swiftly to the affected community to restore law and order "I just returned from the community and the situation is under control but we cannot ascertain the number of persons killed in the clash. 

I call on the people to be more tolerant and cautious of undesirable elements that might want to take advantage of the unfortunate situation to inflict harm on innocent persons,” the chairman added. 

 Also confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Musa Ashoms, blamed the situation on a disputed land in the area. “I have just called the Mikang Local Government chairman over the issue. He told me that it is something that could have been avoided and not allowed to escalate to the point that people lost their lives, and at the moment, there are persons receiving treatment at the hospital,” he said.

"It started as a result of a land dispute. The land in question cannot even produce six bags of rice, and you know when people are attached to their land, they can go the extra mile. 

 "It is something they could have controlled, but somehow, it got to a point where others too joined them and houses were burnt down and people were maimed.” 

 He advised the people to always explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in resolving their differences and refrain from taking the law into their own hands. 

 The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, who also confirmed the incident, said security operatives had been deployed in the area while investigations on the incident are ongoing.