Many residents have been feared killed in the invasion of Murish community in Mangu local government area of Plateau State by suspected gunmen.
The incident took place late Sunday night.
Sources in the area who did not want their names in print said the gunmen stormed the community at about midnight and shot sporadically, killing an undisclosed number of villagers.
One of the sources said several others sustained various degrees of injuries and were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
The Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA) which confirmed the killings, expressed sadness at the ugly turn of events in the council where disturbing reports indicated a deteriorating security situation in some parts of the locality that had led to the loss of scores of precious human lives and property destroyed.
The director-general of the agency Dr. Joseph Lengmang in a statement he issued in Jos yesterday lamented that the current attack came on the heels of pockets of attacks recorded in some parts of Barkin Ladi and Jos North LGA in the last few days.
He said the agency condemned the resurgence of violence because of its potential to throw the state back into those dark days where life and property were destroyed at the slightest provocation. He commiserates with all those that were affected in the attack, especially those who lost their loved ones while praying for the quick recovery of persons who sustained various degrees of injuries.
According to the DG, the attacks in Murish village, Bokkos LGA and Jwak Mai Tumbi in Mangu LGA was an orchestrated attempt to instill fear in the minds of the people even as the wet season sets in.
He urged security operatives to go after these retrogressive elements in order to arrest the deteriorating security situation.
PPBA also call on the traditional institutions in the affected communities, the elders, youth, women and community leaders to rise up to their responsibilities by prevailing on their subjects to tow the path of peace in resolving all issues of conflict through dialogue and other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms rather than taking up arms that would only lead to a vicious cycle of internecine violence.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the incident.
He said there are reports that an attack took place in the communities, but “we do not have concrete information at the moment.”
He added that the DPO and the area commander were on top of the situation, adding that “as soon as they give us a detailed report, we will be able to say much on it.”
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