Scores of protesting women have burned down the house of the District Head of Bokkos town in Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, Michal Monday Adanchi.
Sources say the natives who are gathered in a large number in Bokkos town, having been sacked from their various communities, are angry at the indiscriminate arrest of persons over the corpses of two persons killed by the yet-identified person(s).
A source told journalists that the incident happened around 12:30 pm on Friday, January 5.
The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the women burned the house following the arrest of some members of the community for their alleged involvement in the recent killings in the area.
According to him, the traditional ruler’s residence and his administrative office were burned down.
“The incident began at the police station where they expressed their anger over the arrest of some members of the community,” the source said.
A native who did not want to be named said, “The incident began at the police station, where they expressed their anger over the arrest of some members of the community.
“After leaving the police station, they proceeded to the house of the traditional ruler, protesting that he was a sellout and not doing much to stop the indiscriminate arrest. A few minutes after reaching the house, they set it ablaze.”
The people question why the security personnel are “not arresting the Fulani that sacked the villages but are busy harassing and arresting traumatized people who escaped the attacks with their lives.”
The spokespersons of the Police Command and Operation Safe Haven could not confirm the development.
But the police spokesman, Alfred Alabo, said, “I’m in a meeting; please call back,” while that of Operation Safe Haven, James Oya didn’t pick up or return his call at the time of the report.
However, some youths in the local government had in the last three days complained about the “bias of the security in handling the situation.”
Emmanuel Mafulul said, “Our people are being abused and traumatized; there has been ongoing arrest and detention of the victims while the perpetrators are left untouched. A corpse of a Fulani man was said to be found and the next is the mass arrest of persons, including the IDPs
“They inform us that our people are not humans, and those who killed them can’t be arrested. A Fulani is above the law and above every other person.
“The Fulani are in the villages harvesting our crops while we are here hungry and homeless, yet nothing is done apart from arresting our people. Where is the fairness?”