At least nine persons have been killed in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State between Saturday night and Sunday morning, with tensions mounting in the affected areas.
Our correspondent reports that security personnel have been deployed to the affected communities to restore law and order.
It was reported that five of the victims were passengers travelling from Gana-Ropp in Barkin LGA to Mangu LGA when they were attacked at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Narrating how the five persons were killed, Pyem Youth Leader in Gana-Ropp, Ukasha Garba, who visited the scene of the incident, explained that the gunmen opened fire on a Vectra vehicle heading to Mangu, killing four passengers and the driver while one passenger survived.
He said, “The driver is from Gindiri town. He used to come to Gana almost four times in a week to bring foodstuffs and return back to Gindiri with passengers. Four of the victims are miners while the fifth one is the driver.”
“On arrival at the scene of the incident, we evacuated the corpses to police station on Gana Ropp and the driver was yet still breathing was rushed to Barikin General hospital but before we moved him to emergency, he had died and thereafter, we returned the corpse to the police station. Relatives of the victims have had come and took them to their various communities.”
National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, also confirmed the killing of the five persons in Gana-Ropp.
He condemned the attack and called on security operatives to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.
Dabit lamented the loss of lives, saying the continued attacks were causing pain and fear among residents and should not be allowed to continue.
In another incident, two persons, including a pastor, were reportedly killed on their way to church at Dorowa Babuje.
Our correspondent reports that a woman was also reportedly killed at Baten Wereng in Riyom LGA on Saturday night, while another person was killed at Ratyidi in Fan District on same day.
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.
Meanwhile, several cattle were reportedly killed around the Dorowa Babuje-Maranba-Kantoma axis at about 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Barkin Ladi, Gambo Abubakar, confirmed reports of cattle being stolen in the area, urging security agencies to investigate the incident and restore calm.
