By Abang Mercy
Reports reaching us says, Senator Gyang Dantong representing (Plateau North, PDP) and honorable Gyang Fulani (Member house of assembly) representing Barkin Ladi of Plateau State have both been shot dead by suspected fulani gunmen.
The majority leader of the Plateau State house of Assembly Gyang Fulani was also murdered today during a mass burial for scores of people killed yesterday by unknown gunmen.
The third person Simon Mwadkwon who is a member of the house of representatives was critically injured during the attack.
Senator Gyang until his death was Chairman, Senate Committee on Health and also a member senate committee on Aviation.
Previously elected into office; honourable member, house of representatives in the 5th (2003-2007) Assembly
Senator Gyang DantongThe late Senator Dantong was previously the Medical Director, at the Vom Christian Hospital Jos.
He was the Distinguished Senator of the 6th (2007 -2011) Assembly.
He studied at the University Of Jos; and the University of Ghana Legon.
Abraham Yiljap, the state’s Commissioner of Information, confirmed the assassination in a statement.
It would be recalled that Twenty people were killed while several houses got burnt when nine villages in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau state were attacked on Saturday morning by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
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Source: citizensplatform.net
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From Weekly Trust
Senator Gyang Dalyop Datong (Plateau North, PDP) has been shot dead by gunmen while attending a mass burial ceremony today for victims of another attack in his senatorial district. Datong was until his death, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health.
Also said to be among those affected was Hon. Gyang Fulani, the Chief Whip of the Plateau state House of Assembly. Hon. Fulani was representing Barkin Ladi constituency. An unknown number of people were killed when the gunmen launched their attack, shooting indiscriminately.
A statement from the Plateau state commissioner of Information, Abraham Yiljap confirmed the killings.
Today’s attack took place sometime after 2pm at the venue of the mass burial of some newly discovered dead victims who were found slain in a church in an attack that had gone by unreported and presumed to have taken place yesterday. Over 37 people – villagers, aggressors and STF personnel – were reported killed in Barkin Ladi at the weekend in a new cycle of violence between Fulani herdsmen and Berom tribesmen who co-habit the two local government areas. Over 9 villages were attacked by people believed to be Fulani in the raids on Saturday. Barkin Ladi is about 25 kilometres from the state’s capital, Jos. Datong won his first election in to the Senate in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011. He was previously a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituencies.
Also speaking on the incident in a telephone chat with Daily Trust, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Solomon Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East) said, “This is very painful, and it points to no direction for our country. But if it points to any direction at all, it is that of hopelessness”.
