Gunmen kill family of six in Plateau

Still reeling from the crisis that rocked parts of Jos, the capital of Plateau State on Sunday, some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in the early hours of Tuesday invaded Ganawuri District of Riyom local government area of the state and killed a family of six.

Tribune Online learnt that the unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Danwal village of Ganawuri district when the inhabitants were still in bed.

The Youth Leader of the community Gyang Boyi told Tribune Online that the gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the village at about 4:00 am adding that they killed a family of six in their sleep and destroyed farms produce worth thousands of Naira before they bolted away.

According to him, on their arrival, the marauders released a volley of gunshots into the air to scare the people of the village from coming out adding that the family of six comprising father, mother and four children between the of four to thirteen years of age were shot at close range and macheted to death.

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“We are surprised by this attack, the people of Danwal have no problem with any individual or group of people prior to this attack. Those who heard the people when the operation was going on said the gunmen spoke in Fulani language while the attack lasted. We are calling on the government to provide security for the village to wade off future attacks,” he said.

The State Police Command in a statement signed by its Public Relation Officer, DSP Mathias Terna Tyopev confirmed the unfortunate incident adding that six persons who are members of the same family lost their lives in the attack.

According to the statement, one Dalyop Boyi, the Youth Leader of Nakai Danwal village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State reported to the Plateau State Police Command that unknown gunmen attacked the house of Gyang Dachung of Nakai Danwal village, as a result, six persons lost their lives.

The statement pointed out that the Command mobilised to the village, took photographs of the corpses and released their bodies to the relatives on demand and were buried according to their traditional rites.

It further pointed out that Deputy Commissioner of Police Department of Operations, Plateau State Command visited the scene adding that police patrol of the area is being intensified in order to discourage any reprisal.