SAN FRANCISCO, November 26, (THEWILL) – It was a bloody day in Plateau State on Tuesday as over 40 persons were killed in the early hours of the day in fresh attacks on four villages, Tatu, Rawuru, Bok, and Dorang, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state. Ten others were reportedly injured and rushed to various hospitals in the Local Government.
The killings came barely two days after Governor Jonah Jang raised the alarm over the plot by suspected terrorists to attack the state during Christmas .
The Special Task Force (STF) on security on the Plateau, in a statement, confirmed the attacks, saying only 37 persons were killed.
The STF statement signed by Captain Salisu Mustapha said “about 13 persons in Katu Kapang, eight in Daron, nine in Tul and seven others in Rawuru, ” were killed while ” about five others were also reported to have sustained injuries.”
According to Mustapha, “On receiving the report, STF personnel swiftly moved to the scenes to bring the situation under control, but the gunmen fled on sighting the arrival of the troops. The situation was however brought under control by men of the STF and the area secured.
“The Commander of the Task Force, Major General David Enetie has visited the villages to assess the situation and has vowed that no stone would be left unturned to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act. “
Village head, Jok Cholonm of Rawuru village, said his brother and his seven children were wiped out in the attack as he lamented that despite the presence of security post in the area, the terrorists operated undeterred .
Head of Tatu village, Mr. Pam Gyang Tsok, said he heard gunshots in the neighbourhood and “I then rushed out of my house to the direction, and what I saw were corpses lying in the pool of their blood. The attackers had completed their jobs and gone.”
Pam Yakubu, who lost five of his relatives; Davou, Yop, Sarah, Felix, and Timothy, described the attackers as professional killers, who spoke fluent English Language.
He appealed to security operatives to tighten security around the local government council to avert further onslaught.
Outgoing president of Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Reverend Soja Bewarang, who conducted a mass burial for the deceased, described the attacks as a calculated attempt to wipe out the people of the state.
He lamented that despite the security operatives in the locality, gunmen could wreck so much havoc on the communities as he called on the state government and the STF to brace up to their responsibility.
Interim Sole Administrator of Barkin Ladi, Mr Habila Dung, described the attacks as barbaric and unfortunate. “I got a call at about 12 mid night and immediately notified security operatives, who swung into actions. But the villages attacked have difficult terrains, and it was difficult to access by the security operatives, “ he said.
