News

‘Soldiers Guided Cows While We Were Killed’ — Plateau Survivor Accuses Military of Abandoning Village

Published

5 months ago

April 13, 2026

Preport

Fresh controversy has emerged from the recent killings in Plateau State, as a survivor of the April 9 attack in Mbwelle village has accused security forces of abandoning residents during the deadly assault.

The woman, who lost eight members of her family, claimed that soldiers deployed to the area failed to respond to distress calls while the attack lasted for hours.

The incident occurred in Mbwelle village, located in Kwatas district of Bokkos Local Government Area. The attackers, suspected to be Fulani militia, reportedly stormed the community at night, opening fire on residents and causing widespread panic. Several homes were also affected during the invasion, leaving many families displaced.

According to the grieving woman, help never came despite repeated calls to nearby troops. She said residents had hoped that soldiers under the Operation Ensuring Peace task force would intervene quickly, given their proximity to the village.

“When the Fulani killers came to our village that night and started shooting at the people, our youths and elders called the soldiers who were stationed less than three kilometers away.

“We pleaded with them to come to our aid but they refused to come,” she said.

The survivor described how the attack went on for over two hours without any form of military intervention. She said the assailants moved from house to house, killing and destroying properties, while residents tried to escape or hide.

“The Fulani killers were shouting “Allah Akbar” and shooting at our people for more than two hours but the soldiers did not come. They came into our house and killed eight of my family members including my brother’s wife who was pregnant.

“How wicked could they be? They killed my father, my brothers, and my young nephews. What did these people do to them to deserve such a death?”

She added that more than 20 people were killed in the attack, leaving the community in mourning and fear. Many survivors are now said to be taking refuge in nearby villages, unsure of when it will be safe to return.

The woman further alleged that after the attackers fled, disturbing discoveries were made by members of the community. According to her, the attackers retreated to a nearby settlement known as Korong, which had earlier been taken over after previous displacements.

“In the end, we lost over 20 people. When the Fulani killers left, we discovered that they ran to Korong, one of the villages that they had earlier chased the people away from and forcibly occupied.

“As if that was not enough, we later realized that the soldiers had stationed their gun truck in front of Korong thereby providing security for the Fulani people while leaving innocent people open to attack,” the woman lamented.

Her claims have sparked outrage among residents and observers, with many questioning the role of security forces in the troubled region. Community leaders have called for an independent investigation into the incident, insisting that those responsible for any negligence must be held accountable.

Efforts to get an official response from military authorities were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report. However, security agencies have in the past maintained that they remain committed to protecting lives and property in Plateau State.

News

2027: We’re bringing back fuel subsidy – Kwankwaso

Published

6 minutes ago

September 22, 2026

Preport

The vice presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said the party would reintroduce fuel subsidy in a different form if it wins the January 2027 presidential election.

Kwankwaso stated this in an interview with Arise TV, describing President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the subsidy on his first day in office as a mistake that has plunged Nigeria into what he described as a “total mess, economically.”

The former governor of Kano State said there were several ways the subsidy could be reintroduced without returning to the previous system.

He added that the NDC would focus on building more refineries and implementing measures that would significantly reduce the price of fuel across the country.

News

Expert backs suicide decriminalisation

Published

19 minutes ago

September 22, 2026

Preport

Taiwo Obindo, a psychiatrist, says decriminalising attempted suicide will enable more people to access mental health assessment, treatment and psychosocial support, while reducing barriers to seeking professional help.

Mr Obindo, professor of psychiatry and honorary consultant at the University of Jos and Jos University Teaching Hospital, said this on Tuesday. He explained that not all suicide attempts were linked to mental health conditions, emphasising that each case should be carefully assessed to determine underlying causes and appropriate interventions.

“Let me start by saying that not all cases of suicide or attempted suicide are mental health cases,” he said.

According to him, about 80 to 90 per cent of people who died by suicide were likely to have underlying depression, while other mental health conditions could contribute.

The psychiatrist said impulsive individuals might make decisions before adequately thinking through consequences, making professional assessment necessary to identify possible underlying mental illness and determine appropriate support needs.

“Those who do not have mental health conditions are then given psychosocial support to help them move on with life,” he said.

Mr Obindo, also chairman of the West Africa College of Physicians (Nigeria chapter), said warning signs included withdrawal, hopelessness, persistent low mood and loss of interest in activities.

He said poverty, significant losses, impulsivity, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and chronic illnesses could also contribute to suicidal thoughts, increasing the need for timely mental health interventions.

The immediate past president of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria said postpartum mental health conditions could predispose affected individuals to suicide or infanticide if untreated.

He said the federal government’s move to decriminalise attempted suicide, following Federal Executive Council approval, would allow the matter to proceed to the National Assembly.

Mr Obindo said rather than criminalising people who attempted suicide, they should be assessed and provided with appropriate treatment, rehabilitation services or psychosocial support based on identified needs.

He also called for the implementation of the National Mental Health Act and the establishment of a dedicated mental health department within the Federal Ministry of Health.

(NAN)