40 Dead, 10 Injured as Gunmen Invade Plateau Villages

NO fewer than 40 people were killed yesterday, when gunmen attacked four villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Among those killed, accor-ding to villagers, were a one-year old boy shot at close range, a four-year old and several women and other children. 10 persons have been hospitalised as a result of injuries sustained during the attack.

The attackers were said to have struck between 12.30a.m. and 1a.m., completely wiping out two families. The village head of Tatu, Da Pam Gyang Tsok, told newsmen that they started hearing sporadic gunshots at about 1a.m. and later discovered that the assailants had killed 15 women and children.

Ten people were confirmed killed at Bwok village and seven at Dorong.

He confirmed the killing of every member of two households in the village during the attack, adding, “we were shocked by the attack because we had no quarrel with any group or person and have been living in peace with non -natives in our midst.”

‘They wore military uniform’

A similar story was told by a community leader at Rawure village, Mr. Job Chollom, who said the attackers wore military uniform.

He said they surrounded the village before launching the attack, killing a man, his wife and their young children aged one, four and 10 years. He added that five people were injured in the attack.

Confirming the attack, the Interim Administrator of Barakin-Ladi Local Government, Mr. Habila Dungs said a total of 40 people were killed in the four villages in what he described as a well coordinated attack.

Spokesman of the Special Task Force, STF, in the state, Captain Salisu Mustapha, also confirmed the incident in a statement.

According to the statement, STF personnel on receiving the report moved to the scenes to restore order, adding that the gunmen fled on sighting the troops.

Villagers accuse security agents however, some of the villagers complained to news-men that no help came from security men, who were not too far away while the attack lasted.

Speaking after the mass burial for those killed at Tatu, the outgoing President of Church of Christ in All Nations, COCIN, Reverend Soja Bewarang condemned the killings, wondering why it could happen with security men around.

He urged government and the security agencies to take necessary steps to check the frequent attacks on innocent communities as the attackers appeared bent on wiping out the people of the state.

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