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At least nine people have been killed in separate attacks across Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring communities in Plateau State between Saturday night and Sunday morning, with residents left in fear and tension rising in the affected areas.
Five of the victims were passengers travelling to Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area when they were attacked on Saturday night, while two others, including a pastor, were reportedly killed while heading to church at Dorowa Babuje on Sunday morning.
National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, MDA, Bulus Dabit, confirmed the killing of the five passengers at Gana-Ropp and condemned the attack.
Dabit called on security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible, while urging authorities to strengthen security in vulnerable communities to enable residents to carry out their lawful activities without fear.
Pyem Youth Leader in Gana-Ropp, Ukasha Garaba, also confirmed the incident, saying five bodies had been evacuated from the area.
“We evacuated the corpses of five persons from Gana-Ropp. They were passengers who were travelling as labourers,” Garaba said.
He described the attack as painful, noting that the victims were travelling to their destination when they were attacked, and called for urgent measures to protect travellers along the route.
In a separate incident, two people, including a pastor, were reportedly killed while on their way to church at Dorowa Babuje, with tension mounting in Kantoma and surrounding communities in Barkin Ladi.
A woman was also reportedly killed at Baten Wereng in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night, September 19, while another person was killed at Ratyidi in Fan District.
Spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, BYM, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attacks and called on security agencies to increase their presence in the affected communities.
“We condemn these attacks in the strongest terms and call on the security agencies to urgently strengthen their presence in the affected communities. The killing of innocent people must stop,” he said.
Meanwhile, several cattle were reportedly killed or stolen at Dorowa Maranba and the Kantoma axis at about 3am on Sunday, according to the Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Barkin Ladi, Gambo Abubakar, who urged security agencies to investigate the incident and restore calm.
