Taraba, Plateau bandits kill 10, amputate baby

Taraba, Plateau bandits kill 10, amputate baby

Bandits on Sunday attacked Joro Manu village in the Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing three people and abducting six others.

No fewer than seven persons were also killed in the Jos South LGA of Plateau State by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

The residents in Joro Manu village said the attackers came on motorcycles around 2pm and shot anyone in sight.

Two residents, Umar Saidu and Abdullahi Mohammed, told our correspondent that people were fleeing the area for fear of being killed or kidnapped.

 

The acting Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gambo Kwache, confirmed the incident.

The police spokesperson said, “We are on top of the situation. We have made a deployment to the area to track down the attackers.”

The immediate past chairman of Gassol LGA, Musa Chul, had last year raised the alarm over the regrouping of terrorists in forests around the council area.

The killings in Jos, however, came less than 24 hours after 18 other persons lost their lives during a clash between bandits and members of a vigilance group in the Wase council area of Plateau State.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the latest killing on Monday.

He said the attack happened on Sunday around 9pm in Danda Chugwi community of the council area.

Tengwong said, “Seven people have been confirmed dead at Danda Chugwi community following an attack by Fulani militias.

“Others, who sustained serious gunshot injuries, have been taken to the Vom Christian Hospital for immediate medical attention.”

It was learnt that among those injured was a four-month-old baby whose hand was amputated by the gunmen.

Tengwong identified the deceased as Pam Dawho, 59; Nvou Gyang, 43; Jah Pam, 50; Ruth Bot, 16; Chundung Gyang, 9; Mercy Gyang,12; and Benjamin Gyang, five.

Those who sustained injuries were identified as Lyop Dung, 40; and David Gyang, four months old.

Reacting to the attack in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, Governor Simon Lalong described the incident as callous and condemnable.

The governor directed security forces to ensure that those behind the attack were apprehended and punished according to the laws of the land.