BREAKING: Scores feared killed in fresh Plateau attacks

At least 18 individuals were feared dead as gunmen launched devastating attacks on Friday morning in Tilengpan community within the Mangu Local Government area of Plateau state. Additionally, on Thursday, April 18, four communities in Bokkos were also targeted.

Reports indicated that 12 people lost their lives in the morning attacks in Mangu villages, while another six individuals were killed in four Bokkos communities, including a university student who was murdered the previous night.

According to sources from the affected areas, a group of terrorists raided Tilengpat community and four villages in Bokkos, carrying out the assaults.

Confirming the tragic incident, the chairman of the local government, Monday Kassam, stated that armed militias launched deadly assaults on four communities within the local government, resulting in six casualties.

Kassam elaborated that the attackers, as per their modus operandi, entered the communities and the off-campus hostel of Plateau State University students, firing indiscriminately to announce their presence. Among the victims was a female university student who was shot in her room, inciting a protest by university students early Friday morning.

He recounted, “The following morning, the students came out in their large number, they were demonstrating when one of them was shot again based on the information I heard from the eyewitness account. And the militias not satisfied had to come in again this morning despite the presence of security. They were given a chase but I don’t know the number of casualties but as of yesterday six persons were reported dead.”

In a statement issued by the liaison officer to Governor Mutfwang, Hon. Bala Fwangje, strong condemnation was expressed regarding the recent attacks in Talengpat village. The statement called upon law enforcement agencies to swiftly respond and restore peace in the affected communities while urging a thorough investigation into the root causes of the violence.

Additionally, the Plateau State University community mourned the loss of a 200-level computer science student, Dading James Jordan, who was a victim of the attack in Chikam, near the university. In response, university management declared a two-day mourning period and suspended scheduled examinations.

Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central, visited Telengpat in Pushit, Mangu Local Government Area, following the tragic incident, where 12 fatalities were reported. He assured the community of his commitment to collaborating with relevant authorities to address the violence and implement measures to prevent future occurrences.