Slain traders laid to rest in Plateau

 

The bodies of traders murdered while travelling from Jos to Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State have been recovered and interred in Barkin Ladi LGA.

The victims, who reportedly travelled weekly to Pankshin for their shoe business, were buried on Monday evening at the Sabon Anguwa cemetery in Barkin Ladi town, according to their relatives.

Government sources told Channels Television that authorities opted to conduct the burial outside the victims’ home communities to prevent escalating tension triggered by news of the killings.

The deceased were residents of the Yandoya community in Jos North LGA. Their deaths followed coordinated attacks on Dorowa Babuje and Jol communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs, where 10 other people were also killed.

A community leader, Danjuma Ibrahim, explained that youths had gathered to demand the release of their relatives’ bodies after reports of the attack surfaced, prompting the deployment of security operatives to maintain order.

Ibrahim, who leads the Muslim community in Barkin Ladi, said the corpses were conveyed to the area earlier on Monday.

“We were informed in the afternoon that the remains of the traders would be brought to Barkin Ladi for burial. They were later received, and funeral prayers were conducted here to ease tension in Jos,” he stated.

He revealed that six traders were attacked, two of whom escaped, while four were killed and subsequently buried.

Ibrahim urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, and called on government and security agencies to take firm action to curb the persistent violence affecting communities across the state.