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25 More Killed in Plateau - Soldiers Move Into Quan-Pan

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
May 21, 2004
Posted to the web May 21, 2004

By FELIX DURUMBAH and MOSES EZULIKE,
Lagos and Jos
HEAVILY armed soldiers and mobile policemen have taken over control of security
in Quan-Pan local government of Plateau State, scene of Tuesday's fresh
sectarian fighting, even as local authorities there said 25 persons, and not
five, were killed in the crisis.
Besides, fresh disclosures by the local authorities indicate that five villages
were razed in the crisis.
The state Sole Administrator, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Chris Alli (rtd) was yesterday
officially briefed of the incident by Rev. Danjuma Daniel, chairman of Quan-Pan
council, at Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
State police commissioner, Mr. Innocent Ilozuoke and Rev. Daniel also yesterday
spoke separately with Daily Champion.
The police boss said soldiers and policemen have taken control of the local
government to restore peace, law and order.
Mr. Ilozuoke said no arrests had been made because the attackers sneaked into
the council area from neighbouring Nasarawa State, unleashed terror and escaped
before the soldiers and policemen could reach the place.
"Soldiers and policemen have sealed off Quan Pan," the police boss said.
Also speaking with Daily Champion, Rev. Daniel dismissed the figure of five
dead earlier given from the crisis.
According to him, a total of 25 persons were killed in the conflict.
The council chairman, who confirmed that indeed soldiers and the police were
now in control in the local government, added that several houses were burnt
down while many persons ran off into the bush to escape the assailants'
onslaught.
Rev. Daniel, who described the situation as "terrible", said he had only just
made an official report to the state administrator on the situation moments
before speaking to Daily Champion.
On Gen. Alli's reaction to the said report, the local government chairman said
"he's working on it."

   

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