At least 20 people were killed when some armed groups again attacked two villages in Plateau state. The murder reportedly occurred around 9 pm on Monday. The affected villages are Kubwat and Fungzai in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
John Yakubu, a Fungzai community resident who witnessed the raid, reported that gunmen killed 15 people in Hunzai town alone. This number is inclusive of his brother’s wife and their children. Furthermore, 29 dead bodies had been recovered.
According to Yakubu –
“It was last night; the gunmen arrived in large numbers and started shooting. The panicky villagers started running but unknown to them, other gunmen laid ambush and shot at those trying to run away. As I’m talking to you, I am in Fungzai village. The attackers killed 15 persons here(Fungzai) including the wife and children of my younger brother last night.
“They also attacked Kubwat, a neighbouring village. So far, we have recovered a total of 29 corpses, including women and children. We are in pain.”
However, Governor Simon Lalong expressed his concerns over the attack in a statement Tuesday.
According to a statement signed by his Press and Public Affairs Director, Macham Makut, the governor-
“woke up on Tuesday to the distressing news of an overnight attack on Kubat Village in Mangu Local Government where some persons, including women and children, were reportedly killed.
Governor Lalong, who is seriously disturbed about the sad development, has immediately directed security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they are arrested.
He describes this as yet another attempt by crisis merchants and criminals to return the state to the dark days of pain and agony. He vowed that the government would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind this scheme are dealt with mercilessly.
While condemning the act, the governor commiserated with the victims. He assured them that the murderers would not be allowed to go unpunished as this act can neither be tolerated nor excused.
The governor has equally directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and ascertain the humanitarian needs. This is so as to bring succour to the affected while a thorough investigation is being carried out.
Attempts to get a response from Mr Alabo Alfred, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, failed. He either did not answer the phone or respond to text messages sent to his cell phone.
cc: Punch Ng
