Photo: Leadership

Unknown gunmen (file photo)

Jos — A total of 20 people were killed in Plateau State on Wednesday in separate sectarian crises in two local government areas.

18 people died at Wadatan Garga in Wase Local Government Area and two at Du in Jos South Local Government Area in similar circumstances while about 20 houses were razed at Dompar and Kurmin Dashe communities in the area. Several others were injured in the attacks.

Vanguard learnt that trouble broke out in Wase council area, following the discovery of the corpse of a man said to be Taroh by tribe who was believed to have been killed by the Fulani.

This provoked a reprisal attack on some Fulani men returning from a market at Wadatan Garga which left nine of them dead.

Similarly, the alleged attack on the residence of a Fulani man in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area which left one dead and another injured provoked a reprisal as some natives returning from a nearby village were ambushed and one of them was killed and others injured.

Chairman of Transition Committee of Wase Local Government Area, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed confirmed the killings in his area but could not say the cause of the problem.

He said soldiers have been drafted to the area to restore peace and prevent an escalation of the problem. He was optimistic that normalcy would return to the area soonest.

Executive Director of an NGO, Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, who confirmed the killings in Jos South council area identified one of the deceased as Pam Rwang, adding that Pam Dalyop, who was injured was taken to Vom Christian Hospital.

However, when contacted, Media Officer of the Special Task Force maintaining security in the state, Captain Salisu Mustapha, said he was yet to be briefed on the incidents.