The Irigwe Development Association (IDA) has confirmed the killing of 14 persons by suspected bandits in a midnight attack on Sunday at Ri Do, a hamlet in Riyom local government area of Plateau State.
Ri Do is a village predominantly inhabited by Irigwe natives from Bassa LGA of the State.
LEADERSHIP reports that a mass burial was organised for the victims by the community.
IDA, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Sam Jugo, said immediately it heard the news of the killing, an executive member was despatched to the scene to verify the extent of the carnage.
According to the statement, reports from the IDA emissary indicated that 14 persons were murdered in cold blood, while one Linda Moses, about 32 years of age, sustained serious injuries and was receiving medical attention at an undisclosed location.
The group, therefore, called for restraint and hope that the Security Agencies will do the needful to nip probable reoccurrence and/or reprisals in the bud.
“Our hearts bleed for the demise of our kinsmen whom we hoped to spend this Yuletide together but their lives were cut short. May their souls rest in peace with their maker and God’s comfort to their immediate families and the Irigwe nation,” it stated.
Similarly, the Plateau State Government through the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Musa Ashoms, also confirmed the incident and condemned the attack.
Ashom urged security agencies to go after the perpetrators with a view to apprehend them.
Earlier, the Plateau State Police Command had banned night grazing and farming activities in the state.
Other measures included deploying personnel across all 17 LGAs of the State, banning late-night beer parlours, mining activities, and commercial motorcycles.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, said the measures followed engagements with stakeholders to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during and after the Christmas season.
At the time of filing this report, spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, and the spokesman for the Military Task Force, Major Samson Zhakom, had not release any statement regarding the attack.
