Another massacre was avoided in Jos yesterday, when an attack on a village in the suburb of the city by suspected Fulani herdsmen failed.
The bandits, who targeted homes in Kuru Jenta village, located south of Jos, the Plateau State capital, attacked homes belonging to three top government officials at about 1am, Sunday morning, in a style resembling tactics used in similar attacks in March that left hundreds of people massacred in Dogo Nahawa and Riyom villages. The houses were attacked in a way to drive the occupants out to the waiting arms of their assailants, but this time around, the people refused to come out.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, Mohammed Larama, confirmed the incident. He, however, said the attack was carried out without any casualty and that no arrest has been made, adding that investigation is on to unravel those behind the attack.
Officials say the occupants of the houses – built with concrete blocks and zinc roofs – did not come out until the attackers fled the area. They however, succeeded in burning four cars and two houses before they left.
The targets were two former senior government officials and the brother of the chairman of Jos south local government area.
Suspected herdsmen had launched series of attacks on different villages of the Berom in March, killing over 500 people.
Two weeks ago, the Nigerian Police arrested 20 suspects for the violence committed in Dogo Nahawa. They were charged before a Federal High Court in Jos for murder, terrorism, arson and maiming. Hearing of the case resumes on the 15th of April.