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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists, in their numbers, reportedly attacked the Bangalala community of Zurak village in Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing over 40 residents, including vigilantes.
The deadly attacks at Bangalala community of Zurak in the southern part of Plateau State has left so many injured in helpless conditions begging for urgent security and medical interventions.
Information gathered indicates that several houses were razed and the entire Bangalala community have been sacked by the rampaging gunmen, who came on motorbike and started shooting sporadically.
Daily Sun gathered that the unfortunate attack became so devastating with the bandits operating at will without any serious counter, aside vigilantes. A resident of the community, Umar Abdullahi, told Daily Sun that, “the incident occurred around 7pm, on Monday, when people in Bangalala community of Kampani Zurak were going about their normal activities.
“They came on motorbike and started shooting sporadically and people started running helter-skelter. Over 40 people were killed and so many injured, looking for urgent medical attention. Bangalala village is a border community of Kampani Zurak and Taraba. It is a community of herders in large proportion and there is poor telecommunication network in that area to call for intervention,” Abdullahi said.
A youth leader in the area, Abubakar Sambo, also confirmed the incident, stressing that the bandits arrived at the community on motorcycles with two people per bike carrying sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically at everyone.
“More than 40 people were killed while many others were injured. Residents of the Bangalala community, a border town with Taraba State have fled to neighbouring communities to have a cover. As of yesterday, security personnel had not yet arrived at the community. It was a deadly attack, coming at a time that farming season is about to commence in earnest,” Sambo lamented.
This is coming barely two weeks after some bandits launched a brutal attacks in the evening of Tuesday, 07/05/2024, on a local market at Kayarda village of Namu (Jepjan) District of Quran-pan LGA in the Southern part of Plateau State, killing three with several others left with bullet wounds.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, has commended the police for arresting one of the bandits that attacked the Bangalala community of Zurak in Wase Local Government Area of the state.
He said nine dead people were buried, yesterday, as gathered from the council chairman, assuring that the Mutfwang administration will put a definite end to the trend of banditry in the state. Ashoms stated this, yesterday, in an interview with Daily Sun on the recent development in the state.
He said: “We woke up this morning with the report of attacks on the mining community of Zurak in Wase LGA of Plateau State. The attackers came and started shooting sporadically; they were shooting any living thing they set their eyes on, and people started running for safety, but the situation is calm now. At the moment, nine dead bodies were buried today. The CP and his men were in the affected community. I want to tell you that the Mutfwang administration is going to put an end to this trend.”
Regardless, members of the community have decried the high level of lawlessness often exhibited by the bandits in the border community of Bangalala in Zurak village of Wase LGA, rubbing locals in broad daylight.
A native of the area, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Bangalala community is a boundary community with Taraba State. It’s a community that has so many herders; in fact, it will interest you to know that the bandits come to the town with guns in broad daylight.
“There are instances when herders would bring their cattle to the market, after selling their animals, the bandits would come straight up and tell you to bring the money. And you have to give them without challenging them. The border community has continued to be an ungoverned space and the government needs to give serious attention to the happenings in these areas.”
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, when contacted on the unfortunate development, confirmed that one bandit had been arrested in the hospital while rushing in for treatment.
He said the joint operation between Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba States on the activities of the bandits along the border communities led to the neutralisation of seven of the bandits. While some of the escapees ran towards the Bangalala community of Zurak and shot nine people who were vigilantes.
Alabo noted that the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, has directed the Langtang Area Command to relocate to the affected community until normalcy is returned to the areas. He noted that the CP has vowed not to rest until the fleeing suspects are brought to book, assuring the communities not to panic. The CP sympathised with the families of the vigilance officers who were shot and commended their act of gallantry.
