An eyewitness in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State says that the arrest of Christian youths over the killing of two Fulani herdsmen angered the women into taking to the streets yesterday, demonstrating with tree leaves and placards saying, ‘Enough is Enough’.
The eyewitness, who lives side-by-side the district head, Michael Adanchi, Bokkos traditional ruler, whose palace was burnt down by the aggrieved women kicking against the unjust arrest of the youths, told WikkiTimes that two Fulani dead bodies were discovered in a market square and a random arrest was carried out by the police.
The women, learning from the police that the district head ordered them to carry out the arrest of the youths, stormed the ruler’s palace in anger and set it ablaze.
“Two Fulani dead bodies were discovered in a market square and a random arrest was carried out by the police. A group of agitated women protested against the arrest, saying that people have been killed in the villages and no single arrest has been made and now without any evidence or intelligence, the police discovered dead bodies in towns and started arresting the youths. The women went to the police station to report but were told that it was the district head that assigned them to arrest the youths aligned with the death. Angrily, they went to his house but he was not available; he was at the office. Then they (the women) went to his office (the district head) and pulled him out and burnt his office, agitating that why should the youths be arrested upon random killing that no one could ascertain who’s responsible,” the eyewitness explained.
“I believe those responsible for the attack are those aggrieved to what is happening or who have lost their loved ones to the Christmas Eve attack. Since the natives were attacked in the villages, probably in one isolated area they attacked those people (Fulani). Who knows, it may be brothers or siblings or colleagues that attacked those people? That’s why the women protested yesterday. They arrested the youths at different locations and different times. Once they (the police) see you walking about and they don’t like your dressing, they just bundle you into their car. The women brought down the gate and set the palace on fire in protest and anger. Two motorbikes and vehicle were also set ablaze.”
WikkiTimes had earlier reported that police in some towns of Bokkos were outnumbered, resulting in the attack launched by the women.
“The police are seriously outnumbered and that’s why the women were able to launch the attack. We’ve not seen any reinforcement, even if it’s for temporary basis; that’s just the truth. As I observed in other places, some squadron came over and still stay around town and assist the number [of police] on the ground,” the eyewitness said.
He added that one of the protesting women sustained a head injury from a stick hit by a soldier and another woman bruised her leg while trying to cross a ditch. The women were adamant and confrontational amid the gunshots because “they have lost their relatives and siblings and that it’s better for them to be killed”.
“The women that launched the attack sustained some injuries. There were gunshots in the air but the women, with clogs and sticks, said they were going nowhere that they have lost their relatives and siblings and that it’s better for them to be killed. But a soldier with force hit a woman with a big stick on the head; she was taken to a healthcare centre opposite the head of district’s palace in Bokkos. Another woman was trying to cross a ditch and she had some bruises on her leg. The women that I saw bore no arms; one of them only carried a placard saying, ‘Enough is Enough’. Others were holding some tree leaves as a form of protest,” he said.
The eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said the district head is in an unknown location, saying, “I believe for security reasons they decided to keep him in in undisclosed location to secure his life and other things.”
“Actually, the district head is in an unknown location. My house is just side-by-side his own. The last time I saw him was when the security personnel came and took him away from the office. Since then, I have not seen him. I believe for security reasons they decided to keep hin in undisclosed location to secure his life and other things,” he said.
He continued: “As at yesterday, virtually all shops in towns were shut down, except those selling essential goods like drugs. By evening, some shops were opened. This morning business and normal activities picked up and that’s why I was able to travel to Jos this morning.
“If you go to the villages, it’s mostly men that volunteered to serve as vigilantes you’ll see around. They have already moved most of their valuables to town. Sometimes, during the daytime, the women go to their villages to pick some things and in the evening they return to towns where they are squatting in.
“The youths that were arrested are natives. They are Christians and that’s what agitated the women the more. If necessary measures are not put in place, such as proper peaceful dialogue on both sides, vengeance will still keep on spiralling in the hearts of men.”
