BREAKING: Terrorists Launch Fresh Attack in Plateau, Kill 30
Terrorists attacked Kwahaslalek village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in the tragic death of no fewer than 30 individuals.
The victims, predominantly women and children, sought refuge in the residence of a community leader the previous night after facing unrest in Mangu town during the day.
Tragically, the assailants surrounded them, leading to the loss of all those who had sought safety. Mark Haruna, a community leader in the region, verified the grim death toll when speaking to PUNCH Online in Jos, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Haruna said, “What happened at Sabon Gari and Mangu town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) was just a distraction so that the attention of the people will be shifted away from the villages.
“For the second time, my village Kwahaslalek (behind NYSC camp) came under attack by gunmen yesterday (Tuesday)night. They came at about 12:30 am and killed over 25 people, mostly women and children.”
The Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, Joseph Gwankat, also confirmed the killing, describing it as callous.
READ ALSO: Governor Mutfwang Imposes 24-Hour Curfew in Plateau LG
“I couldn’t sleep last night as a result of what happened in Mangu town during the day yesterday. Now, I have just been told Kwahaslalek village was attacked last night and about 30 people were killed .
“From what I was told, the unrest in Mangu town yesterday created fears in many communities. Some people in the village went and evacuated their loved ones and assembled them in a place where they thought was safe.
“So in the night, the killers went to Kwahaslalek village where the people mostly women and children were assembled and killed all of them,” he said
The chairman, who strongly denounced the killings, expressed his dismay, stating, “I have been informed that there was no security presence to protect the villagers. This is sheer cruelty. How can the residents of their own villages become subjected to relentless attacks and violence without any intervention to halt the assailants?”
Upon reaching out to the spokesman for the state police command, Alabo Alfred, he mentioned that he had not received the report of the incident at the time of contact.
“I have not received any report on that. Let me call my Commander. We will investigate the incident if actually something like that happened,” the PPRO said
Yesterday, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State announced a 24-hour curfew for the Mangu Local Government Area (LGA). The decision was prompted by the worsening security situation in the region, marked by unrest that resulted in the destruction of numerous homes, including churches and mosques. The state is still grappling with the aftermath of the Christmas Eve assaults on communities in three LGAs.
A group of gunmen targeted villages such as Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat, and Butura Kampani in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos areas of the state.
The assailants set houses ablaze and indiscriminately shot residents, leading to the tragic loss of over 150 lives in the attack.
(PUNCH)
