Terrorists kill three, attack mining site in Plateau communities

GUNMEN have killed three persons and injured a one-year-old child in an attack on commuters in Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, while a separate assault was also reported at a mining site in the same council area.

The attack on the commuters, according to a statement issued by the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, occurred on Friday at about 10:00 p.m. at the bridge linking Gassa and Nding communities in Barkin Ladi.

BYM stated that the victims were on their way back to Fan District when they were ambushed by gunmen suspected to be terrorists operating from the Jong area of Ropp District, believed to be their recent hideout.

The statement said the victims, comprising a man and two women, were shot at close range. A one-year-old baby, reportedly being carried by one of the women, survived the attack but sustained injuries.

Shortly after the incident, the gunmen were said to have attacked a mining site in Rabuk village of Nding, where close to 200 people were working at the time. However, BYM noted that due to the vigilance of local residents, no casualty was recorded during the mining site attack.

Condemning the incidents, the Berom Youth Moulders-Association described the attacks as part of a disturbing and coordinated pattern of violence spreading across Plateau State, insisting that they were not isolated occurrences.

BYM expressed concern over the timing of the attacks, noting that they came barely a day after the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) made what it described as unverified and inflammatory allegations that over 100 cows were rustled at Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area, allegedly by Berom youths from Vwang in Jos South Local Government Area.

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The association questioned the credibility of the allegation, asking how such a large number of cattle could be rustled without leaving any trace, and whether criminal elements within the axis of the alleged incident or among other groups were being overlooked. It stressed that cattle rustling is a criminal activity that cuts across ethnic and religious lines.

BYM further argued that the sequence of events reinforced its position that such unsubstantiated claims are often used as smokescreens to justify or trigger violent attacks on communities.

The association called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the claims by MACBAN, and to identify, arrest, and prosecute all perpetrators and collaborators involved in both cattle rustling and coordinated attacks across Plateau State.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesman, SP Alfred Alabo, could not be reached on his phone as of the time of filing this report.