A midnight attack carried out by gunmen resulted in the killing of more than 30 people, mainly women and children, at Kubat village in Mangu local government area of Plateau state, a local source has said.
Both Governor Simon Lalong and the state Police command confirmed the attack but declined to give the casualty figure.
However, a resident of the community, Mr. Joseph Mangai, said the locals were asleep when they suddenly heard sporadic gunshots from the hoodlums.
“Some of us ran into hiding but many people, mostly women and children, were discovered dead,” he said.
Condemning the attack, Governor Lalong described it “as yet another attempt by crisis merchants and criminals to return the state to the dark days of pain and agony.”
Lalong said this in a statement by his director of press, Makut Macham.
“Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong woke up Tuesday 16th May 2023 to distressing news of an overnight attack on Kubat Village in Mangu Local Government where some persons including women and children were reportedly killed,” he said.
Lalong, who said he was seriously disturbed by the sad development, tasked security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure their arrest.
Also confirming the attack, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Alfred Alabo, said the Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, expressed his sadness over the “unfortunate incident that took place in Bwoi District of Mangu LGA, which has claimed the lives of yet to be identified persons from various villages within the area.”
He said: “…a distress call was received from one of our Police officers in charge of Tanknale village of Mangu LGA that some unknown gunmen are shooting sporadically in a nearby village.”
He said the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, ACP Bawa Sale, who was later at the scene, revealed that with the support from of other security agencies, the team gave the hoodlums a hot chase.
“Due to our heavy firepower, the hoodlums abandoned about four (4) motorcycles which are presently in the custody of the STF and one (1) Sharon vehicle with Plateau State registration number (MGU 988 HK) and some items used for their nefarious activities,” he said.
Benue
In a related development, a couple, their only child and seven others were also reported killed in fresh attacks on communities in Benue state by suspected armed herdsmen.
It was gathered that the communities affected in the latest attacks include Akpanta, Ochumeko and Ijaha in Apa local government area, where three persons were said to have been murdered in cold blood.
Also in Ucheen, a border community between Makurdi and Gwer West LGAs, six persons also lost their lives in the mayhem.
National Chairman Apa Development Association Mr Eche Akpoko confirmed the attack in Apa LGA, adding that the invaders stormed and razed the affected communities at the weekend after killing the victims.
He said: “Akpanta and Ogwuji villages were burnt down and the attackers killed three people at Ijaha village.”
On the Ucheen attack, the Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Aule, while confirming the attacks, said the hoodlums killed six persons in the community while another fell and died on seeing the remains of his murdered relatives.
“Yes, it happened in Ucheen village, after Adaka, a border community in Makurdi. The armed herdsmen came in at 2:30am and killed about six persons
“Among those killed were one woman, her husband and their child. Besides that, three others were killed, the people were sleeping when the attackers came and killed them in their sleep.
“There was another person who also died. The man was related to the murdered husband and wife. He came that morning and saw them lying lifeless on the ground, he collapsed and eventually died after being rushed to the hospital,” he said
Aule, who said he visited the area Tuesday morning, in the company of the police, said the unprovoked attack was unacceptable and condemnable.
“We have no issues with these people but they have been coming there to attack the people. We have reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police and the Security Adviser,” he said.
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer SP Catherine Anene confirmed the attack, saying five persons were killed,
She also said security personnel had been drafted to the area while the corpses of those killed had been recovered and deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
The police spokesperson, however, said she was yet to receive details of the incident in Apa LGA.
