No fewer than 17 people were killed in an attack on Ancha village, Miango District of Plateau State, on Wednesday.

Noah Nga, leader of the Miango Youth Development Association, who confirmed the attack to FIJ, said many houses and barns of food were burnt.

He said, “Villagers are now moving out of their houses while the burial rite of the slain people is ongoing. If you can proffer any solution towards ending these killings by Fulani herders, we don’t mind adopting it”.

A local vigilante from Hukke, a neighbouring village to Ancha, said the invasion went on for an hour around midnight, when many people had retired to bed.

READ ALSO: For the Third Time in 10 Days, ‘Fulani Herders’ Ambush Plateau Farmers

Pictures from the scene of the attack showed that some people were burnt in their huts, while others, including minors, were shot at.

Several shell casings on the roof of the huts and the floor revealed that the attackers had sophisticated firearms.  

On Monday, FIJ reported the third attack in the Bassa Local Government Area in 10 days, after sources raised the alarm that their attackers were preparing for a large-scale operation.

They said several ambushes often precede a major attack across the agrarian communities in Bassa.

Gabriel Ubah, the Plateau State police spokesperson, told FIJ the police were working towards apprehending the criminal elements.

“Whenever we receive reports like this, investigations are usually initiated to apprehend culprits,” he said. “Our officers are always there to protect. 

“In fact, a few days ago, the commissioner of police still met with the leaders of Fulani, Hausa, Irigwe, Berom, and others there to give them security updates on what they should pay attention to so they could keep the communities safe.”