At least 12 people have been killed in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State between Saturday night and Sunday, with tensions mounting in the affected communities.
Security personnel have been deployed to the affected communities to restore law and order.
Daily Trust reports that five of the victims were passengers travelling from Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area to Mangu when they were attacked at about 7:30pm on Saturday.
The Pyem Youth Leader in Gana-Ropp, Ukasha Garba, who visited the scene, said gunmen opened fire on a Vectra vehicle travelling to Mangu, killing four passengers and the driver, while one passenger survived.
“The driver is from Gindiri town. He used to come to Gana almost four times a week to bring foodstuffs and return to Gindiri with passengers. Four of the victims are miners while the fifth one is the driver,” he said.
Garba said the bodies were evacuated to the police station in Gana-Ropp.
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, also confirmed the incident and called on security agencies to arrest those responsible.
Dabit lamented the loss of lives, saying the continued attacks were causing pain and fear among residents.
He urged the authorities to strengthen security in vulnerable communities and ensure that residents could go about their lawful activities without fear.
In another incident, two persons, including a pastor, were reportedly killed on their way to church at Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi, with tension mounting in Kantoma and surrounding communities.
Daily Trust also learnt that a woman was reportedly killed at Baten Wereng in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night, while another person was killed at Ratyidi in Fan District on the same day.
In a separate incident, three herders were killed on Sunday in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Barkin Ladi, Abubakar Gambo, confirmed the incident, adding that two other persons sustained injuries.
Gambo said the incident occurred at about 3pm when the victims, who were conveying cattle from Bokkos to Jos South, were attacked.
Narrating the incident to Daily Trust, the MACBAN secretary said, “The herders were on their way from Bokkos to Kara cattle market in Jos South when the gunmen suddenly opened fire on their vehicle.
“They were conveying cattle in the vehicle. Three occupants died, while two others sustained injuries and have been rushed to the hospital. The Operation Enduring Peace Sector Commander in Barkin Ladi has visited the scene. The corpses have been evacuated by the personnel. We are preparing to bury them today.”
The MACBAN leadership in the area called on its members to remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands and allow security agencies to investigate the attacks.
When contacted, the spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, did not respond to inquiries from our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attacks and condemned the killings, describing the incidents as worrisome and unacceptable.
Tengwong said, “We condemn these attacks in the strongest terms and call on the security agencies to urgently strengthen their presence in the affected communities. The killing of innocent people must stop.”
He lamented that the fresh attacks had further heightened fear among residents, stressing that communities should not continue to lose their people to violence.
(DAILY TRUST)