2 MPs die at mass burial for victims of internecine killings in Nigeria (Updated, with curfew imposition)

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Two serving federal and state lawmakers died while they were attending the mass burial of the over 30 of their kinsmen killed by suspected Muslim Fulani herdsmen a day earlier in Nigeria's northern state of Plateau, the local media reported.

The two were identified as Mr. Gyang Dantong, the Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber, and Mr. Gyang Filani, who is serving in Plateau State House of Assembly (state parliament).

The report said both men were among mourners at the mass burial when gunshots rang out from suspected Fulani herdsmen, who were believed to have been behind Saturday's killings.

It was not sure if the MPs were killed by gunshots, as some reports said, or out of shock as the official News Agency of Nigeria reported Sunday.

More than 30 people, mostly women and children, were killed when over 100 gunmen invaded many Christian villages in Barakin-Ladi and some parts of the Riyom Local Government
Areas of Plateau state.

The gunmen stormed the villages of Berom, Kakuruk, Kuzen, Ngyo, kogoduk, Ruk, Dogo, Kufang, Kpapkpiduk, Kai in Barakin-Ladi in the early hours of the day, shooting anyone they could see.

Those killed by the gunmen, who reportedly wore army uniform and were armed with sophisticated weapons, also included two policemen.

It was the latest in a spate of tit-for-tat killings between the so-called settlers in the state, who are mostly Hausa-Fulani herdsmen, and the predominantly-Christian indigenes over increasingly scarce natural resources.

The troops deployed to the state to help restore peace, under the military Joint Task Force (JTF), have not succeeded in halting the internecine attacks.

Meanwhile, the Plateau state government on Sunday imposed a night time curfew on four council areas in the state, where Saturday's killings took place.

The affected councils are the Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom.
-0- PANA SEG 8July2012