By; BUHARI B. BELLO, Jos
There was an invasion of some communities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State by armed men, which led to the killings of scores of persons, our correspondent has gathered.
Sources from Murish village, which came under attack late Sunday night, said that several persons were killed in the community.
The source who did not want his name in print, said the gunmen stormed the community at about midnight and started shooting sporadically.
He added that several other persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
Confirming the sad incident, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA), expressed sadness by the ugly turn of events in Mangu Local Government Area, where disturbing reports indicate a deteriorating security situation in some parts of the locality that has led to the death of scores of precious human lives and property destroyed.
A statement signed by the Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang, made available to newsmen in Jos on Monday, lamented that the current attack is coming on the heels of pockets of attacks recorded in some parts of Barkin Ladi and Jos North LGA within the last few days.
The peace building agency condemned in totality this resurgence of violence, because of its potential to throw the state back into dark days where human lives and property were destroyed at the slightest provocation and commiserated with all those that were affected by the unfortunate development, especially those who lost loved ones, while praying for the quick recovery of persons who sustained various degrees of injuries.
The Peace building agency further added that the attacks in Murish Village, Bokkos LGA and Jwak Mai Tumbi in Mangu LGA is an orchestrated attempt to instill fear in the minds of the people even as the wet season sets in.
They urged security operatives to go after these retrogressive elements in order to arrest the deteriorating security situation.
The body also called on the traditional institutions in the affected communities, the elders, youth, women and community leaders to rise up to their responsibilities by prevailing on their subjects to tow the path of peace in resolving all issues of conflict through dialogue and other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms rather than taking up arms that would only lead to a vicious cycle of internecine violence.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo confirmed the incident.
He said, “there are reports that an attack took place in the communities, but we do not have concrete information at the moment.”
He added that, “the DPO and the Area Commander are currently on top of the situation, as soon as they give us a detailed report, we will be able to say much on it,” he stressed.
