Again, gunmen attack another Plateau community, kill many villagers
Following the tragic Christmas eve massacre in Bokkos local government area in Plateau State where over 150 villagers were gruesomly murdered, bandits have attacked another community on Thursday night.
The Christmas eve massacre marks the most severe outbreak of violence in Plateau since May, so many fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
Earlier, the terrorists issued a warning of an impending attack to the Pushit community in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
READ ALSO: Christmas Day Massacre: Death toll rises to 112 as gunmen attack 12 Plateau villages
In response to the impending attack on the Pushit community, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alabo Alfred, stated that the command was aware of the threat, emphasising, “We have intelligence, but we are working on it.”
Confirming the attack from the previous night, the Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos, Monday Kassah, revealed that gunmen assaulted the community, setting homes ablaze and causing destruction.
Kassah noted that due to the prompt intervention of security personnel, no fatalities were reported.
Providing an update on the Christmas Day attack, the committee chairman stated that the casualty count still stands at 195, with rescue operations ongoing to locate missing individuals.
Among the casualties, 148 occurred in Bokkos Local Government Area, 19 in Mangu Local Government Area, and 27 in Barkin Ladi.
In Bokkos council, 1,290 houses were burned, while only one house was razed in Mangu LGA, and the situation in Barkin Ladi was yet to be determined as of press time.
The Christmas Day attacks, which initiated in the Bokkos area, extended into neighbouring Barkin Ladi, resulting in the tragic demise of 30 individuals, according to the local chairman Danjuma Dakil.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the violence, calling it “barbaric, brutal and unjustified”.
“The government will take proactive measures to curb ongoing attacks against innocent civilians,” said Gyang Bere, the governor’s spokesperson.
Gunfire could still be heard on late Monday afternoon, according to a source from the region.
A resident of Mushu village said people were sleeping when shots rang out.
“We were scared because we weren’t expecting an attack. People hid, but the assailants captured many of us, some were killed while others wounded,” the residents said.