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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Eight people have been killed in three separate incidents in Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State between Monday and Tuesday, despite a curfew imposed by the state government following persistent attacks in the areas.
In the first incident, gunmen ambushed three Mwaghavul vigilantes in Mangu Local Government , while four artisanal miners died after a sand excavation pit collapsed in Bokkos.
In another incident, a 22-year-old man was killed when gunmen attacked Rakwok, Bet, Razat, Gassa and Rakung communities in Barkin Ladi LG on Monday night.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joel Sunday, on behalf of its President, Kyesmang Jonathan Yusuf, said the three youths were ambushed at the Kyikyau-Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area.
According to the association, the incident occurred at about 7:39 p.m. on Tuesday when the victims were reportedly ambushed by suspected armed attackers.
The three men were said to be among those keeping watch over their community following the curfew imposed by the state government.
The MYM identified the victims as Samson Dachet, 45; Gambo Fwangyil, 50; and Zughumnan Bamaiyi, 35.
The statement said the group was disturbed that the attack occurred during the newly imposed 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, which was introduced by the state government to protect lives and enable security agencies to stabilise affected communities.
The group said the incident had raised concerns about the effectiveness of the curfew, alleging that while law-abiding residents remained indoors, armed attackers continued to move around and launch attacks.
It said communities that had historically relied on organised vigilance to protect their homes, farms and families were now restricted from movement, while the perpetrators of violence appeared undeterred by the restriction.
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The MYM therefore called on the state government and security agencies to immediately review the curfew arrangement in Mangu, particularly its implications for communities that remain vulnerable to attacks after dusk.
In the second incident, four artisanal miners died following the collapse of a sand excavation pit at Tangur community in Bokkos Local Government Area.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
An witness said the victims were excavating sand along a river line in the community when the pit suddenly collapsed on them.
Meanwhile, the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) has condemned what it described as coordinated attacks by suspected armed attackers on Rakwok, Bet, Razat, Gassa and Rakung communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on Monday night.
BYM President, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, expressed concern that the attacks occurred on the same night the Plateau State Government imposed a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu, with security agencies directed to enforce the restriction.
The BYM identified the victim as Henry Elisha, 22, a young husband and father of two from Rakwok.
Mwantiri said while law-abiding residents obeyed the curfew and remained indoors, armed attackers were able to move between communities and launch coordinated assaults.
He further alleged that commuters were ambushed along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos and Barkin Ladi-Gashish roads in broad daylight on Tuesday.
He said the situation became more disturbing when attackers struck during Elisha’s burial at Rakwok on Tuesday, September 22, trapping mourners, including the BYM national president, while security personnel engaged the attackers in a gun battle from different directions.
The BYM called on security agencies to intensify patrols and ensure effective enforcement of the curfew across the affected communities.
