From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Rampaging gunmen in the early morning of yesterday attacked two communities in Mangu local government area of Plateau state, killing seven people and carting away over 1,000 cows and sheep.
In the recent attack, which came after weeks of respite in the orgy of killings that bedevilled the North Central state of Plateau, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked two communities in Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.
Daily Sun gathered from the local sources that the gunmen carried out simultaneous attacks on Maraba Pushit District and PinPer, all in Komun District of Mangu Local Government Area of the state, at about 10:45 pm, at a time most of the residents had gone to sleep.
In the operations that lasted for more than one hour, the gunmen also injured many people, destroyed properties, and carted away many motorcycles and farm produce.
The attack may have been a reprisal after the body of a Fulani leader was found in a well in Mangu after he was abducted while going to buy food for his ailing wife who was being hospitalised.
A community leader in the Pukah community, John Mark, who confirmed the killings to newsmen on Thursday, said the gunmen who attacked the community in large numbers overwhelmed the local security men in their numbers and weaponry.
Mark said, “The Pukah community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State came under heavy attack by gunmen early this morning (Thursday). They also attacked another community in the council area known as Pinper. In the Pukah community, they killed one lady and six men. But in Pinper, they carted away several numbers of sheep before they fled the communities.”
Another resident of the community who pleaded anonymity, said over 1,000 livestock were carted away by the gunmen.
Plateau State Police Publlic Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, could not be reached for comments.
However, the recent incident came at a time the State Government inaugurated over 600 Neighborhood Watch Operatives, to complement the the state internal security outfit, Operation Rainbow.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, at the passing-out parade of the operatives, said that the revitalization of the state security outfit was part of his administration’s effort to ensure the security of lives and property.
The vigilantes were meant to serve as early warning signals and first line of defence in their local communities where they came from.
The initial 600 were recruited from the five most crisis endemic local areas of Bassa, Barakin Ladi, Mangu Jos South and Riyom.