Four individuals, comprising a security operative and three local residents, lost their lives following a violent raid by armed men on Bel village within the Sho community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State. Multiple other inhabitants suffered varying degrees of injuries during the onslaught.
The assault transpired approximately at 9 p.m. on a Sunday, when the assailants infiltrated the settlement and began shooting indiscriminately at the populace.
What are the specific details of the assault?
Local sources revealed that the attackers took the community by surprise under the cover of night, shooting at targets without provocation. Mr. Bulus Bot, a local resident, recounted the event, stating that unsuspecting citizens were caught off guard as gunfire echoed through the area.
"The gunmen stormed the community at about 9 p.m. and opened fire on innocent citizens, leaving some people dead and others injured," Bot stated, highlighting the growing apprehension regarding regional security.
Rwang Tengwong, the Publicity Secretary for the Berom Youth Moulders Association, corroborated the casualty figures and provided the identities of three deceased locals: 15-year-old Emmanuel Pam Dachung, 28-year-old Joseph Gyang, and 32-year-old Emmanuel Yohanna. Tengwong added that a military personnel was equally gunned down, raising the overall fatalities to four.
What reactions have trailed the tragedy?
Condemning the incident, Tengwong termed the continuous loss of innocent lives intolerable and urged security formations to apprehend the culprits. He emphasized the necessity for immediate and proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable rural settlements in the region from recurring incursions.
Attempts to obtain official remarks from security agencies regarding the onslaught remained unsuccessful as inquiries were yet to be addressed.