At least nine people have been killed in separate attacks across Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring communities in Plateau State between Saturday night and Sunday morning, triggering fresh tension among residents.
The victims were reportedly killed in different incidents, including attacks on passengers, churchgoers and residents in the affected communities.
Five of those killed were passengers travelling to Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on Saturday night when they were attacked.
National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, confirmed the incident, condemning the killings and urging security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible.
Dabit expressed concern over the recurring attacks, saying they had continued to create fear and anguish among residents.
He called on the authorities to strengthen security in vulnerable communities and ensure that residents could go about their lawful activities without fear of attack.
The Pyem Youth Leader in Gana-Ropp, Ukasha Garaba, also confirmed the incident, saying the bodies of five victims had been evacuated from the area.
Garaba said the victims were passengers travelling to the community as labourers when they were attacked.
“We evacuated the corpses of five persons from Gana-Ropp. They were passengers who were travelling as labourers,” he said.
He described the incident as painful and appealed for urgent security measures to protect travellers and other residents in the area.
In another incident, two people, including a pastor, were reportedly killed while travelling to church at Dorowa Babuje on Sunday morning.
The incident has reportedly heightened tension in Kantoma and neighbouring communities in Barkin Ladi.
Meanwhile, a woman was reportedly killed at Baten Wereng in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night, while another person was killed at Ratyidi in Fan District.
The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attacks and condemned the killings.
Tengwong called for an immediate strengthening of security in the affected communities, stressing the need for authorities to protect residents and bring those behind the attacks to justice.
“We condemn these attacks in the strongest terms and call on the security agencies to urgently strengthen their presence in the affected communities. The killing of innocent people must stop,” he said.
He said the latest incidents had further increased fear among residents, urging security agencies to investigate the attacks and ensure that those responsible were arrested and prosecuted.
Tengwong also appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant while calling for proactive security measures to prevent further attacks.
Separately, several cattle were reportedly killed or stolen around Dorowa Maranba and the Kantoma axis at about 3am on Sunday.
The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Barkin Ladi, Gambo Abubakar, confirmed reports of cattle being stolen in the area.
Abubakar urged security agencies to investigate the incident and take immediate steps to restore calm in the affected communities.
