Gunmen kill eight, injure many in Plateau community
No fewer than eight people have been killed at Wereng camp community of Riyom Local Government council of Plateau State by rampaging gunmen.
The gunmen also burnt down several homes and carted away foodstuffs.
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the community late Wednesday night and started shooting indiscriminately. Several other persons were injured and are now receiving treatment in a hospital.
Sources from the community also said most of those killed were children and elderly persons.
Another source from the community who wanted to be anonymous lamented that the gunmen came in their numbers and started shooting at anything in sight.
He described the attacks as unprovoked, lamenting that several foodstuffs were carted away by the rampaging gunmen.
Security operatives could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
Several communities had been attacked by armed men in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state in the past few months.
Worried about the development, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang called on the Federal Government to intervene and stop the attacks on citizens.
Mutfwang announced restrictions on the use of motorcycles from 7.00 pm to 6:00 am across the state until further notice, and also banned night grazing in the state.
In a state broadcast recently, Mutfwang said the steps were to restore calm and strengthen vigilance in the state.
A few days ago, four persons were ambushed and killed by unidentified assailants in Dachidom Village of the same Riyom Local Government Area of the state
Member Representing Riyom State Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Dachung Moses Dadon, confirmed the attacks to journalists in Jos.
According to him, “Eight members of my Constituency were on Wednesday night attacked and killed in Wereng Village, Riyom Local Government. As I am speaking to you now, the entire village was ransacked by the assailants.”
Dadon condemned the incessant attacks, particularly in his constituency, urging the government and security agencies to take immediate, drastic action to curtail the attacks.
This incident comes barely hours before a rescheduled stakeholders’ meeting organised by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, aimed at finding a lasting solution to the incessant attacks and killings in Plateau State.