At least 78 people have been killed in a series of attacks in Plateau State in the last 25 days, the first being a clash between Fulani herders and Irigwe youth, which took place in Jebbu Miango, Bassa Local Government Area, on July 31.

In the clash that lasted for a few hours, five people died and over 85 houses were razed.

The next attack took place on August 1, at Tambora in Riyom LGA where 12 were killed and even more houses damaged.

All of these were confirmed by Edward Egbuka, Plateau Commissioner of Police, in a briefing with newsmen that was held at the end of an emergency state security meeting held at the Government House, Jos. He said that a total of 17 people were killed, while many were injured and over 85 houses razed.

On August 15, 25-year-old Stephen Fwangmun was murdered. The young man was killed while going with some of his family members to a convocation ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

Twenty-two people died and 14 sustained injuries on August 22 along Rukuba Road in Jos. The victims were worshippers on their way to Ondo State after attending a zikr prayer in Bauchi. Ubah Ogaba, the Plateau State Police spokesperson, added that 21 victims were rescued and 20 of the suspects arrested.

In a series of reprisal attacks following previous deaths, three UNIJOS students died. One of them, a female, was waylaid on her way to church, and the other was kidnapped and then killed. The third was stabbed to death in a tricycle.      

The recurrent crisis led to the suspension of examination at the University of Jos, and subsequently, the evacuation of students from the University by State Governors of Abia, Oyo, Ogun, Kaduna, Enugu and Kwara State amidst others.  

Although Governor Simon Lalong, the Governor of Plateau State, declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Jos North, Bassa and Jos South Local Government Areas, the crisis persisted.

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The most recent attack was on a Christian community in the Jos North Local Government Area. The community was attacked around 8 pm on Tuesday, August 24 and it led to the death of over 35 people, including a family of five who was burnt alive.  

This brings the total number of people who died in the last 26 days to 77. Previously, FIJ reported that a Plateau resident said that over 70 people were killed between July and August. Over 3,000 houses with over 5,000 households, and an estimated population of 30,000 persons, have been displaced.