No fewer than six persons have been reported killed in Barkin Ladi local government of Plateau state when some unknown gunmen launched fresh attack on two communities.
The two communities are Nding village in Fan district and Dorong village in Foron district all of Barkin Ladi local government in Plateau North senatorial zone.
The Christmas Eve attack is the third in the series that took place between Christmas and new year in the state, resulting in the death of 9 persons. The first being that of 27th December where 5 persons were killed.
In the latest attack of 30th December, eyewitness of the attack in Nding said, โAt about 6:30 pm last Sunday evening, Youth Fellowship of Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Gassa and Nding communities of Barkin Ladi LGA are reported to have been ambushed at Ndingโs bridge when the unsuspecting victims were heading back from celebrating Christmas at Wildlife Park in Jos, Plateau State Capital.
โWe gathered that the attack claimed at least 4 lives while the injured ones have been rushed to hospital by sympathizersโ
Though the attackers cannot be clearly identified, the victims alleged that the attackers must be Fulani herdsmen suspected to have been terrorizing the peace loving inhabitants of Fan District and its environs before the Yuletide.
In another attack which occurred on the 30th of December at about 10pm, some unknown gunmen invaded Dorong Community of Foron District with guns and machete. The attack led to the death of Miss Janet Markus & Dung Pam according to eyewitnesses.
Confirming the killings, Plateau State Police Command speaking through its public relation officer DSP Terna Tyopev said in a statement that, โOn 30/12/2018 at about 1815hrs, the Plateau State Police Command, Jos received a distress call from one Samson Bitrus of Gwom Nding Village that on the same date at about 1800hrs some unknown gunmen attacked a Peugeot 504 Station Wagon on the way to Nding Village.
โThe Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command CP Austin I Agbonlahor having received the information immediately assembled a team that raced to the scene of crime but discovered on arrival that the attackers had left the scene of crime.
โOn the scene of crime, three persons were seen motionless and they were immediately taken to the Barkin Ladi General Hospital where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. Three injured persons were also taken to the Hospital. Out of the three persons that were injured one of them died while receiving treatment. The remaining two persons in the hospital are responding to treatment.
โCitizens are advised to go about their lawful businesses and volunteer information that could lead to the timely arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face the full weight of the lawโ
The police could not, however, confirm the attack in Dorong villages where two teenagers were killed.
