40 dead, 10 injured as gunmen invade Plateau villages

40 dead, 10 injured as gunmen invade
Plateau villages
on november 27, 2013 at 11:00 am in news
By Taye Obateru
Jos— NO fewer than 40 people were killed
yesterday, when gunmen attacked four villages in
Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau
State.
Among those killed, according to villagers, were a
one-year old boy shot at close range, a four-year
old and several women and other children. 10
persons have been hospitalised as a result of
injuries sustained during the attack.
The attackers were said to have struck between
12.30a.m. and 1a.m., completely wiping out two
families.
The village head of Tatu, Da Pam Gyang Tsok, told
newsmen that they started hearing sporadic
gunshots at about 1a.m. and later discovered that
15 women and children had been killed by the
assailants.
Ten people were confirmed killed at Bwok village
and seven at Dorong.
He confirmed the killing of every member of two
households in the village during the attack, adding,
“we were shocked by the attack because we had
no quarrel with any group or person and have been
living in peace with non -natives in our midst.”
‘They wore military uniform’
A similar story was told by a community leader at
Rawure village, Mr. Job Chollom, who said the
attackers wore military uniform.
He said they surrounded the village before launching
the attack, killing a man, his wife and their young
children aged one, four and 10 years. He added that
five people were injured in the attack.
Confirming the attack, the Interim Administrator of
Barakin-Ladi Local Government, Mr. Habila Dungs
said a total of 40 people were killed in the four
villages in what he described as a well coordinated
attack.
Spokesman of the Special Task Force, STF, in the
state, Captain Salisu Mustapha, also confirmed the
incident in a statement.
According to the statement, STF personnel on
receiving the report moved to the scenes to restore
order, adding that the gunmen fled on sighting the
troops.
Villagers accuse
security agents
However, some of the villagers complained to
news-men that no help came from security men,
who were not too far away while the attack lasted.
Speaking after the mass burial for those killed at
Tatu, the outgoing President of Church of Christ in
All Nations, COCIN, Reverend Soja Bewarang
condemned the killings, wondering why it could
happen with security men around.
He urged government and the security agencies to
take necessary steps to check the frequent attacks
on innocent communities as the attackers appeared
bent on wiping out the people of the state.
STF kills 3
Meanwhile, three people were reportedly shot dead
by members of the STF at Shishiri, Pajat Ward of
Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau
State, following a commotion during the
councillorship primaries of Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, in the area.
A group of young men, alleged to have been drunk,
were said to have attacked one of the officials
conducting the primaries.
The security men attempted to rescue him but were
allegedly attacked, forcing them to open fire on the
rampaging youths.
The youths allegedly threw stones and other
missiles at the soldiers, who reportedly repelled
them by firing shots.
The killings resulted in pandemonium as angry
youths began a protest, creating mayhem.
The STF Media Officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha,
could not be reached for comments at press time.