2 Killed, Several Injured In Fresh Plateau Attack

Two people were feared killed on Wednesday evening in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State by gunmen.

These attacks are coming as the state is still grappling with the Palm Sunday killing in the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos, the state capital, by gunmen, and the counterattacks, which left about 33 people dead.

Our correspondent gathered that the Barkin Ladi incident happened along the Bokkos Road when the victims were on their way back from a mining site to Nding in the Fan District of Barkin Ladi.

The victim, who lost his life as a result of the attack, is named Ayuba Pam, while his other colleagues, who escaped, suffered injuries and are now receiving treatment.

In a related attack at about 7pm on the same day, one Christopher Joshua from Byei community in Riyom LGA, was ambushed and murdered by gunmen along the Gwolhoss–Byei road.

Similarly, two students of the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area, were on Wednesday evening attacked by unidentified armed persons while returning from an outreach/fellowship.

Though no life was lost, the two students identified as Joshua Ata Danlami and Brother Pius sustained injuries as they tried to flee from the sporadic shooting of the gunmen.

Commenting on these attacks, National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, called on security agencies to immediately intensify surveillance and patrols along known flash points and rural access roads, particularly the Great Commission–Bokkos road, Great Commission-Gashish axis and the Rahoss-Rim road, Kwi-Farin Lamba road, Gwolhoss-Jol-Sho road and Rim-Bachi road, which have increasingly become corridors of deadly ambushes.

“While commending security personnel who continue to put their lives on the line to protect vulnerable communities, the association urges them to go beyond reactive responses by taking proactive and decisive steps to dismantle the attackers operating within and around the communities.

“The Association also calls on government at all levels to take urgent and decisive action to end these senseless killings and ensure that perpetrators of these heinous crimes are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

There has been no immediate response from the security agencies over the incidents.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, convened an expanded emergency State Security Council meeting on Thursday to tackle the spate of violence in the state and to ensure sustainable peace.

The high-level meeting, which was held at the Government House in Jos, had in attendance heads of security agencies, chairmen of the 17 local government areas of the state, government officials and appointees, and traditional rulers.

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, revealed that the meeting was remarkable and that it is critical in boosting the state’s coordinated security response.

According to him, the meeting was aimed at strengthening synergy among security operatives and ensuring that security enforcement measures are both proactive and decisive.

The Commissioner further stressed that all previously imposed restrictions, including the ban on commercial motorcycles as well as time regulation for tricycles, are still in full force.

Also, the meeting adjusted the curfew hours in Jos North (following the Palm Sunday incident), to begin from 6am to 6pm.  (Daily trust)