From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
No fewer than 13 persons were killed and many others injured in a deadly night attack by gunmen in Juwan village, Tangur district of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Eyewitnesses said the victims were mostly women and children.
The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in the local council, Mr Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings to newsmen in Jos on Friday.
According to him, the attack occurred around 8.30 p.m. on Thursday night as residents were about to retire to bed.
He said: “People were going about peacefully when suddenly, gunmen appeared and started shooting. The men tried to respond but couldn’t defend themselves. Some had to hide, but the women and children being more vulnerable were mostly the ones killed.
“Thirteen bodies were found this morning. They didn’t burn any house; they were just shooting. Anyone vulnerable they came across was targeted.”
Also confirming the attack, the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council, Amalau Samuel Amalau, said that the attackers came late at night and started killing innocent persons.
“Some of the victims are receiving treatment in different hospitals,” he said.
He noted that security personnel were alerted of the attack, but unfortunately, they arrived after the perpetrators had fled the scene.
The Media Officer of Operations Safe Haven OPSH, Maj. Samson Zhakom, could not be reached as at press the time. His phone lines were unreachable when our correspondent called.