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Fulani herdsmen allegedly kill local hunter

The-allegedly-murdered-farmer.-Photo-Friday-Olokor

The allegedly murdered farmer, Daniel Wallam. Photo: Friday Olokor

Friday Olokor, Jos

The tension in Plateau State over alleged theft of cows thickened on Saturday with the killing of a local hunter identified as Daniel Wallam in Maijankhai village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The deceased was said to have been gunned down by suspected Fulani herdsmen who had invaded some farmlands with their cattle.

Several calls to the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, for response were not replied.

But when contacted, the spokesperson of OPSH, Major Umar Adams, said he would make enquiries and “get back.”

But as at the time of filing this report, he had yet to “get back” to our correspondent as promised.

The attack came barely two days after allegation by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Plateau State chapter, that their cows had been stolen.

But while the Special Military Taskforce, codenamed Operation Safe Haven, had faulted the figure and insisted that there was no tension over the alleged stolen cows, the Irigwe Development Association dismissed the claim, saying it was a plan to justify planned attack by the Fulani herdsmen.

Although the details of the incident were sketchy, the chairman, Public Accounts and Petitions in Plateau State House of Assembly representing Barkin Ladi constituency, Peter Gyendeng, confirmed the killing in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday evening.

Gyendeng said, “The incident happened on Saturday; it was around 11:00pm that we got a phone call about the killing.

“The man was a hunter and was hunting for animals in the bush.

“On his way returning home, he met the herdsmen destroying some farmlands.

“But the hunter did not know that there were other herdsmen close by, watching him.

“The community confirmed that he called to alert them about the destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen and that they should come.

“So, as he was making that call, he heard a gunshot and started running.

“The herdsmen followed him and gunned him down.

The OPSH and Divisional Police Officer of Barkin Ladi were there for a visit. I was there too this (Sunday) morning.”

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