Senator Gyang Datong shot dead in Jos

Update: However, Ruwang Dantong, the brother of the deceased, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the senator collapsed and died of a heart attack after seeing the dead bodies of his murdered kinsmen.


A Serving Senator, Senator Gyang Datong (Plateau North, PDP) has been shot dead by gunmen while attending a funeral in the state on Sunday.

A statement from the Plateau state commissioner of Information, Abraham Yiljap confirmed the shooting.
Senator Datong won his first election into 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 constituency.



Also shot dead is Hon. Gyang James Fulani, the Chief Whip of the Plateau state House of Assembly. Hon. Fulani was representing Barkin Ladi constituency. Barkin Ladi is about 25 kilometres from the state’s capital, Jos.


Another lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Simon Mwatdkon is currently hospitalised after recovering from coma.


Over 37 people were killed in Barkin Ladi at the weekend in a new cycle of violence between Fulani herdsmen and Berom tribesmen who live in the two local government areas.


Over 9 villages were attacked by people believed to be Fulani in the raids on Saturday.


The attack reportedly took place at the venue of the burial of some of the victims of Saturday’s attacks.



Abraham Yiljap, the state's Commissioner of Information, confirmed the assassination in a statement.


Gyang Fulani, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, was also reportedly shot during the attack. It is not yet clear if he survived.